It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1347 Pointing at his head and spewing insults!
"On its opening day, the romance film 'Embrace You Through the Cold Winter,' co-produced by China Film Group and Alibaba Pictures and starring Huang Bo, Jia Ling, and Zhu Yilong, grossed 2.88 million yuan."

"At midnight last night, the comedy film 'Li Mao Replaces the Prince,' produced by New Classics Media, directed by Gao Ke, and starring Ma Li, Chang Yuan, and Allen, was officially released online, accounting for as much as 23.5% of the screenings."

"The Feiyue Film and Television Annual Meeting's Youku live stream garnered over 100 million views! Director Chen Fei personally appeared and distributed prize money totaling over eight figures!"

Even though Feiyue Films didn't release any new films this New Year's Day, it still dominated multiple spots on the trending topics list.

While other companies are experiencing declining annual returns, Feiyue Films has achieved remarkable results against the trend thanks to its diversified business layout and precise market strategy.

Over the past year, the company has not only continued to exert its efforts in the field of content production, but has also explored new growth points in areas such as film and television derivative development and online-offline integration. Its net profit has surged by 47% year-on-year, far exceeding the industry average!
In terms of film and television projects, Feiyue Film & Television continues to adhere to the "high-quality" approach.

Its main productions, "Dream of Splendor" and "The Snow Sword", have successfully become phenomenal works of the year!

In the film sector, films such as "The Battle at Lake Changjin," "White Snake 2," and "Detective Chinatown 3" swept the market, with overseas distribution covering more than 30 countries, achieving both critical and commercial success.

In emerging business segments, Feiyue Films has successfully created several promotional accounts with tens of millions of followers by collaborating with platforms such as Douyin, Kuaishou, and Bilibili.

The "Oriental Mythology Theme Park," jointly developed with Fantawild, has been launched in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

Meanwhile, the "Cloud Viewing" metaverse platform, jointly developed by the company and leading technology companies, suddenly exceeded 10 million users in its first month of operation, creating a brand-new experience of "online cinema social interaction + virtual viewing effects" and is regarded by the capital market as a new blue ocean for future film and television consumption.

With such outstanding overall performance, Feiyue Film & Television's external valuation has increased several times in just one year!
More noteworthy is that the company's "Young Filmmaker Support Program" has incubated 10 emerging director projects, forming a complete talent ecosystem of "creation-production-distribution" and injecting a continuous stream of fresh blood into the industry.

While traditional film and television companies are still anxious about the harsh winter, Feiyue Film and Television has already carved out its own business landscape through innovation and transformation, becoming a benchmark enterprise that attracts attention from the capital market and the industry!
The day after New Year's Day, Chen Fei was summoned to several meetings by his superiors.

Without exception, many of the conferences featured him sharing his insights on how to develop the future of the Chinese-language film and television industry.

In this situation, even those who had previously been at odds with him rushed over, hoping to gain some useful experience from him.

However, the atmosphere at the meeting was somewhat strange...

Because Chen Fei was sitting in the main seat, as his gaze swept over the densely packed group of business leaders below the stage, he said without any politeness:
“In recent years, we have always said that the Chinese film and television market is cooling down, but have we ever thought that the root of the problem may lie in the so-called ‘shortcut’?”

His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it made many people subconsciously straighten their backs.

"Too many projects are now betting on popular actors, thinking that they can make a profit as long as they have trending topics and fans' votes."

But data can be deceiving! For example, a certain period drama that claimed to have an investment of 500 million yuan had its lead actors' Weibo posts forwarded over 100 million times, but in the end, it only received a 4.8 rating on Douban, and its viewership didn't even reach the minimum threshold for S-level projects on the platform.

Why is this? Because the audience isn't stupid! When acting becomes mere 'brilliance' on a PowerPoint presentation, and the plot degenerates into a 'highlight' for fan-controlled commentary, even the most glamorous packaging can't hide its empty shell nature!

Some people in the audience started looking down at their phones, while others frowned and adjusted their posture.

Chen Fei continued, "The false prosperity brought by traffic is draining the vitality of the entire industry. According to our company's statistics, projects that use popular actors have script polishing cycles shortened by an average of 40%, and special effects production budgets reduced by 30%."
The money is all being poured into hiring people, marketing, and buying trending topics. If this continues, we're not training actors, we're producing data puppets; we're not creating work, we're producing industrial garbage!

His words were practically aimed at the heads of those internet company executives.

Fan Luyuan couldn't sit still any longer and retorted, "Chairman Chen, we understand what you're saying, but traffic can leverage capital. Without them, many projects simply can't get started."

Chen Fei curled his lip: "So we're just going to keep making the same mistakes? Without a solid script, superb acting skills, and innovative storytelling, the project will only get worse and worse."

It might fool outsiders and fans, but when you look at it behind closed doors, whether it's a profit or a loss, I think everyone knows the answer in their hearts.

The meeting room fell into dead silence. Some people took out their notebooks to take notes, while others quietly turned off their recorders.

Chen Fei ignored the unpredictable expressions on the faces of the people below the stage and finally said something harsh: "I'm going to say something a little harsher today."

Those companies still relying on traffic to fleece consumers will eventually be eliminated by the audience's votes with their feet. We filmmakers should have some respect for the market, not treat it like fools, and certainly not think of ourselves as mere businessmen, forgetting the inherent dignity of creators.

As soon as he finished speaking, there was only a few rounds of applause.

But in the corridor after the meeting, his words sparked a cacophony of whispers and arguments.

"Tsk tsk, you really dare to speak your mind! To launch a vicious attack on the internet people in front of so many leaders, that's ruthless."

Wang Changtian walked beside Chen Fei, his words filled with emotion.

"Who cares about them? I'm comfortable now. If they want to listen, they can listen; if they don't, they can just keep making the same mistakes. The market will teach them a lesson."

"Chairman Chen, Chairman Wang."

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind.

Chen Fei and Wang Changtian turned their heads subconsciously and saw Zhao Wentao walking quickly towards them with a briefcase in his hand.

"Chairman Zhao." The two stopped and smiled at the same time.

"It's already noon, let's go grab some food together," Zhao Wentao invited.

"Haha, sure."

"Okay, let's go get something to eat then."

Chen Fei and Wang Changtian did not refuse, and the three of them got into the same car and left quickly.

Behind him, Jiao Hongfen, Fu Ruoqing, Fan Luyuan, Sun Zhonghuai, Dong Ping, Wang Jian'er, Zeng Maojun and others came out one after another, looking at the departing Audi and exchanging bewildered glances.

"Chairman Jiao? Together?"

Fu Ruoqing then suddenly extended an invitation to Jiao Hongfen.

The latter was slightly taken aback, but did not refuse.

The combined box office of "Cliff Walkers" (released during the Lunar New Year holiday) and "Crossing Winter to Embrace You" (released during the New Year's Day holiday) has now reached 11.3 billion yuan.

Unfortunately, like the former, the latter only saw a few days of explosive growth fueled by marketing, before its daily box office revenue was quickly halved.

This "very soon" means less than 5 days!
The box office was 2.88 million yuan on the first day and 2337 million yuan on the fifth day.

This huge drop almost made Jiao Hongfen go crazy!

The number of negative reviews is alarming.

"It's so unlucky. This is the last movie I'll see this year..."

"What we mean is, if there's no script, we don't have to make it. But when a movie is turned into a TV series, it makes me feel like I'm sitting on pins and needles, like I have thorns in my back, like I have a fishbone stuck in my throat!"

"I wanted to leave after less than half an hour. It was boring and tedious, relying entirely on background music to build up the atmosphere. It was like a large-scale music video that forced emotional manipulation by piling up crying scenes. The main characters didn't record their own audio, and the post-production dubbing was so awkward because the lip movements didn't match the audio. Watching a documentary about the pandemic would be better than watching this!"

Faced with these negative reviews, Jiao Hongfen was almost numb.

The only consolation is that the combined revenue from these two films barely covered the huge hole in the investment of "The Mermaid 2".

But precisely because of this, China Film Co., Ltd. barely broke even last year.

This also means that after a year of hard work, no money was made and no real achievements were made.

After the report was submitted, he was immediately notified to retire voluntarily.

And the successor... is naturally Fu Ruoqing.

Once in the car, Jiao Hongfen's hand holding the thermos trembled slightly, and the tea rippled on the rim of the cup.

Fu Ruoqing, standing beside him, looked at him with a gentle smile. "Chairman Jiao has worked hard for three years and achieved a lot. I will definitely ask him for advice during this handover."

Jiao Hongfen forced a smile, but a bitter taste rose in his throat.

The two did not exchange many words along the way.

While suppressing her excitement, Fu Ruoqing was still thinking about what to do next.

With real power in both the group and the limited company, he will now have the greatest say in China Film Group!
This is an advantage, but it also means enormous pressure!
If he fails to achieve results, today's Jiao Hongfen will be tomorrow's Jiao Hongfen.

Back at the company headquarters, the two parted ways and went to their respective offices.

Jiao Hongfen locked the door and went to his desk.

At that moment, a financial summary sheet was spread out on the table, and the words "balanced income and expenditure" marked in red made his eyes bulge.

He had hoped that the two films released during the Lunar New Year and New Year's Day holidays would turn the tide, but unexpectedly, the film's reputation collapsed.

Amidst the overwhelming online outcry against the "bad movie," China Film Group's stock price plummeted by 17% within half a month.

My phone suddenly vibrated; a corporate email popped up.

The retirement document was worded officially, yet every word was cutting: "In view of changes in the film and television market environment and the company's strategic adjustment needs..."

"Sigh!" Jiao Hongfen loosened his tie and let out a long sigh.

Once upon a time, he was a leader at the forefront of the industry, but now he has become a loser due to the slowdown in performance.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered when he first joined the company, China Film Group was still groping in the twilight of the film era.

But now, the train of time has already roared off to an unknown distance!

He couldn't help but feel regret again. If he had teamed up with Feiyue Films back then, how could China Film Group have ended up like this today?
"How could I have missed such a great opportunity?"

Jiao Hongfen was very distressed. He still didn't know where things went wrong, even though he hadn't made any of the mistakes La Peikang had made!

"Do not be impatient for quick success, do not be complacent, and do not put the cart before the horse..."

In a private room at the restaurant, Chen Fei was analyzing future market changes for Wang Changtian and Zhao Wentao.

Meanwhile, Wang Jian'er had already approached Huang Bo.

Due to the plummeting reputation of "Embrace You Through the Cold Winter," Huang Bo, the male lead, has also been significantly affected.

Therefore, when faced with the invitation from Shanghai Film Group, he only glanced at the project structure before nodding in agreement.

"Mozart in Outer Space" is a fantasy comedy, and the premise is quite good.

Moreover, with Shanghai Film Group as the main controller, the guarantee is absolutely high, and this kind of opportunity should not be missed!

Inside the meeting room, steam rose from the rims of coffee cups between the two people.

Wang Jian'er turned the tablet computer towards Huang Bo.

On the screen, special effects clips from the movie "A Writer's Odyssey," produced by Feiyue Films, were playing smoothly.

The particle effects of shattering glass during the chase in the rainy night blend perfectly with the neon lights at the alley entrance, giving every frame a top-notch feel!

"I'm going to entrust the entire visual effects for 'Mozart in Outer Space' to Feiyue Films..."

Hearing this, Huang Bo's confidence in the project grew even stronger.

Ask yourself, who in the industry doesn't know that the level of detail in Feiyue Films' special effects production is almost comparable to Hollywood blockbusters?

Moreover, the members of the Dianjing Digital team are known for their extremely high standards for quality. With them backing you up, there will definitely be no problem with the special effects of "Mozart in Outer Space".

With his high EQ, he immediately responded with a smile: "With the resources of Shanghai Film Group as a foundation, plus the technical support of Feiyue Film and Television, it's hard for this project not to be a hit. When do I join the crew? I need to study in advance how to act in the scenes with the special effects characters."

Wang Jian'er closed his laptop: "Tomorrow, let's finalize the actors' contracts. After the special effects team from Feiyue Films joins the crew, we'll train them for half a month first."

"it is good."

The two parties agreed to cooperate on this matter.

The following morning, Huang Bo finalized the contract details with the "Mozart in Outer Space" project team.

The cast has now been finalized.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Jian'er tidied up the project proposal and boarded a plane to Yanjing, preparing to meet and talk with Chen Fei.

He was very confident that this trip would definitely bring Feiyue Films on board.

Converting the special effects production cost into an investment share not only alleviates the pressure but also spreads the project risk, so why not?
Meanwhile, at Feiyue Film and Television, Chen Fei was looking at the cast list for "The Octagonal Cage" that Wang Baoqiang had sent him.

After a month of intermittent auditions, among many actresses born in the 95s and 00s, he finally chose Zhang Jingyi to play the role of "Sister Su Mu".

"There are three main reasons for choosing her. First, she looks down-to-earth. During the audition, she was wearing no makeup and had her hair in a ponytail. When she stood in the construction site set, she really looked like a rural girl who grew up in hardship. She didn't have any idol baggage."

Wang Baoqiang took out his phone and pulled up the audition clip. "Look at this scene where she knows her brother is injured. She didn't wail or glare. She just touched the bandage with red eyes and stared blankly. That suppressed pain is so fitting for the role."

Chen Fei leaned closer to the screen and looked at it. In the video, Zhang Jingyi's drooping eyelashes trembled slightly, which indeed portrayed the vulnerability of a woman from the lower class who was trying to hold on.

Wang Baoqiang continued, "Secondly, she is willing to put in the effort. In order to audition for this role, she went to Liangshan two weeks in advance to learn the local dialect and do farm work. Now she is more capable than her assistant at carrying water and chopping wood."

During yesterday's rehearsal, she even asked if we could add a habitual finger-cracking gesture to the character, saying it would make her seem more like someone who does manual labor all the time.

Seeing Chen Fei raise an eyebrow, Wang Baoqiang smiled and continued, "Last and most importantly, although this girl's box office appeal can't compare to those hyped-up actresses, she has an exceptionally good public image."

"Many viewers praised her last art-house film. Our film is about struggling in difficult circumstances, and we need actors who can evoke empathy from the audience."

Chen Fei leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the armrest.

He has always believed that, rather than the inflated expectations brought about by popularity, the key to this type of realistic drama lies in actors who can make the audience believe in the fate of the characters.

Moreover, through his collaboration with Zhang Jingyi, he felt more and more that this girl was very talented, and calling her "Little Zhou Xun" was by no means an exaggeration.

“Okay, she’s the one.” Chen Fei pushed the casting list back. “Let the production team contact Zhou Xun directly and let her arrange her people. Before she joins the crew, let her work out the rough edges described in the script.”

"it is good."

Wang Baoqiang quickly left with the cast list.

Chen Fei stretched, then turned on his computer and checked the box office figures for the Lunar New Year and New Year's Day periods.

The box office of "Sheep Without a Shepherd 2" has climbed to 17 billion yuan. The key extension has been successfully obtained and it will be extended until after the Spring Festival before it is officially taken off the screens.

"Cliff Walkers" reached 7.8 million, "Embrace You Through the Cold Winter" reached 4.3 million, and "Li Mao Replaces the Crown Prince" reached 2.1 million.

In addition, several other movies have been released recently.

For example, on the 7th, a total of 11 new films were released!
Unfortunately, it didn't stir up even the slightest wave.

"Jingle Bell……"

Just then, the phone rang.

Chen Fei glanced at the display and found that it was Gu Yongqiang calling.

He casually pressed the answer button: "Hello?"

"Chairman Chen, 'Raging Waves' has passed censorship!" Gu Yongqiang's voice was filled with undisguised excitement. "Not only has it passed censorship, but we've also reached guidance cooperation agreements with the Central Propaganda and Education Bureau and the Central Political and Legal Affairs Information Center! With official endorsement, the scale and significance of this drama are completely different!"

Has "Raging Storm" passed censorship?

Chen Fei unconsciously tightened his grip on the phone, and a smile deepened on his lips.

When Jiang Xueruo brought this project over before, he only suggested that Youku take the lead, in conjunction with Feiyue Films, to submit it for review and see which official body was willing to endorse it.

Surprisingly, there were actually people willing to do it.

But thinking about it, it's quite normal. If this kind of drama can achieve good results, it's actually a kind of political achievement for the higher-ups.

"It's good that it's approved." He tapped the table lightly, his tone steady but revealing joy. "Next, you should communicate with Jiang Xuerou, convene a meeting of the project team, and highlight the core advantage of official guidance."

"Didn't Xu Jizhou want to direct it himself? Then let him do it. Filming will start after the New Year, and we can plan it as one of our key projects."

"Understood!" Gu Yongqiang replied. "The higher-ups also offered some professional suggestions, which will be provided to the screenwriting team to adjust the details in the future."

This time, we have policy support and a solid script. If we also find some talented actors to anchor the cast, we're absolutely capable of creating a phenomenal anti-gangster drama!

"Do it to the highest standards." Chen Fei gave only one instruction, showing his confidence in the project.

The saying "The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish" still resonates in my mind.

"it is good."

Gu Yongqiang nodded and then hung up the phone.

Just as Chen Fei put his phone on the table, before he could go back to his computer, the phone rang again.

He thought Gu Yongqiang had missed something important, but when he picked up his phone, he saw that it was Wang Changtian calling.

"Hey?"

"Chairman Chen! Something's happened!" Wang Changtian's voice on the other end of the phone was filled with anxiety. "The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television just issued a notice to completely halt all talent shows..."

(End of this chapter)