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

Chapter 1364 There are really no fairy tales of love in the Chinese entertainment industry.
"Don't hang around Director Kai lately, he's not in a good mood, or you might get yelled at."

Inside the set of "The Volunteer Army: Mighty Army Strikes," Huang Xiaoming quietly reminded Zhang Ziyi, who had just returned from the restroom.

"Huh?" Zhang Ziyi didn't react for a moment. "Why?"

Huang Xiaoming shrugged: "What else could it be? 'Boyhood' flopped at the box office, didn't you see the news reports? Cinemas gave all their prime time slots to 'Parasite'."

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Ziyi's mind instantly! Her plans from the past few days flashed through her mind.

She had originally planned to take advantage of being in the same production crew to find an opportunity to talk to Chen Kai about collaborating on their next project.

After all, Director Chen wields considerable influence in the film market, a connection that many actors would kill to establish.

But now it seems we'll have to wait a few days.

"It's just an art film, does box office performance really matter? I heard it sold for a lot of money in royalties."

"That's not the point," Huang Xiaoming said, gesturing towards the director's monitor.

Chen Kai was standing there training the lighting crew; his voice could be heard from a great distance.

"You may not know him. He is a proud man. The key issue is that the box office did not meet expectations and lost to 'Parasite'."

Zhang Ziyi nodded, and the little plan in her mind slowly sank away.

Having been in the industry for so many years, she understands all too well the principle of "when the wall falls, everyone pushes it down".

Not to mention that trying to get close to him now might backfire, if the reputation of "Boyhood" continues to decline, even those who are close to Chen Kaige might be the subject of gossip.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath and focused her attention back on the play in front of her.

"Thank you, Xiaoming. If you hadn't reminded me, I might have accidentally made someone angry."

"You're welcome."

Huang Xiaoming waved his hand casually, got up and walked away.

In the shade, Zhang Ziyi watched his back as he turned to chat and laugh with the stagehands, and a wave of emotion welled up in her heart.

In this industry, it's rare to find someone like Huang Xiaoming who handles interpersonal relationships so well.

When she first joined the team, she noticed that Huang Xiaoming always managed to get along well with people from all departments.

I chatted with the lighting technician about last night's game, complained to the makeup artist about the new foundation, and even the veteran prop master loved to hear his funny stories about his early days as an extra.

Once, an extra got stage fright, and he squatted down and talked about the scene for half an hour, without putting on airs as a senior, and quietly paving the way for the other person to save face.

Such a man is truly rare in the industry!

She recalled that when she first entered the industry, she always thought that she could establish herself based on her acting skills, but she offended people several times because she was too blunt.

In contrast, Huang Xiaoming, even when pressed by reporters with tricky questions, can always smile and steer the conversation away from the topic, thus avoiding offending anyone while maintaining his principles.

Thinking about this, a thought suddenly popped into Zhang Ziyi's mind:

If I had someone like that by my side, I probably wouldn't have to sigh over the script so often late at night, right?

You don't even need to guess what the other person is thinking, you don't have to be afraid of saying the wrong thing, and when you're tired, someone can smile and say, "It's okay, I'm here for you."

"What are you spacing out for?" Huang Xiaoming walked over unnoticed and handed over a bottle of mineral water. "It's your turn next. Director Kai just said he wants to guarantee one take."

Zhang Ziyi took the water, nodded slowly, and said with a complicated look in her eyes, "Xiaoming, I'm quite curious, why did Yang Ying let go of such a good man like you?"

Huang Xiaoming's expression froze.

"Let bygones be bygones. Who can really say what will happen in marriage? If you don't love someone anymore, you just don't love them anymore."

"Too."

Zhang Ziyi nodded indifferently.

Like Wang Feng, if he no longer loves someone, he simply doesn't. Who can explain the reasons behind it?

Small things accumulate and eventually erupt into major conflicts; this is the tragedy of marriage.

……

"The crime drama series 'Raging Waves,' produced by Feiyue Films, written and directed by Xu Jizhou, and starring Zhang Songwen and Zhou Yiwei, has officially wrapped up filming today."

"Feiyue Films, in conjunction with Youku's official Weibo account, issued a notice: On September 27, the fantasy/suspense drama series 'Tang Dynasty Ghost Stories,' starring Luo Jin, Cao Jun, Li Yitong, and Meng Ziyi, will be exclusively broadcast on Youku."

"Avatar 2: The Way of Water" has been officially scheduled for release on December 16, marking the start of the Lunar New Year film season.

"Shanghai Film Group issued a notice stating that the fantasy/comedy film 'Mozart in Outer Space,' directed by Chen Sicheng and starring Huang Bo, Rong Zishan, Yao Chen, Fan Wei, and Huang Yangxi, has officially wrapped up filming."

"The romance/suspense drama 'Echo,' directed by Feng Xiaogang, invested and produced by iQiyi, and starring Song Jia, Wang Yang, and Bao Beier, has quietly wrapped up filming today."

As August arrives, the summer movie season reaches its peak in terms of viewership.

Besides currently showing movies, many films and TV series that are about to be released or have finished filming have also joined the fray, vying for the top spot on trending topics.

Among them, the most popular one is undoubtedly Avatar 2.

Once the news was officially announced, it was like a bombshell dropped into the public sphere, instantly creating a huge uproar online!

On social media, discussions about the topic have surged exponentially.

Hashtags such as #Avatar2ReleaseDate# and #ReturnToPandora# quickly dominated the top of the trending searches, easily garnering hundreds of millions of views.

On Douban, the page for "Avatar 2" was flooded with excited comments from movie fans!

"Holy crap! I've been waiting for the sequel ever since the first one came out, and it's finally here! That feeling of being blown away back then is coming back!"

"After a 12-year wait, just to witness the miracle of the film industry once again, I can't wait to sit in the theater and experience the wonder of Pandora!"

"The truck driver really kept me waiting. This guy is so good at swaying around. It's amazing how many years it took to make a movie."

"Brothers, I feel I need to remind you that 20th Century Fox has been dragged down by Cameron."

"Just like how Wu Yu dragged MGM down with 'Windtalkers' back then?"

"No? I seem to remember that 20th Century Fox was acquired by Walton Pictures?"

"Walton Pictures is one of Director Chen's businesses!"

"Holy crap? So Avatar 2 is actually Chen Fei's movie?"

Netizens couldn't hide their excitement, and the discussion continued.

This also reflects that Avatar 2 still embodies the public's yearning for a top-notch audiovisual feast.

On video platforms, the trailer's viewership skyrocketed.

Many film and television bloggers have even spontaneously analyzed the trailer frame by frame, from the details in the scenes to the direction of the plot, and various interpretation videos have emerged one after another.

Some bloggers analyzed the special effects for the underwater creatures and speculated on what kind of stunning visual spectacle director Cameron would bring this time.

Some explore how the story will continue and develop by examining the characters' emotional arcs.

These derivative videos further ignited the audience's enthusiasm, causing the film's popularity to continue to rise.

Meanwhile, data from ticketing platforms provides a clearer picture of audience anticipation. The number of people who wanted to see "Avatar 2" surged dramatically in a short period, quickly surpassing the million mark, and the growth momentum remains strong.

Among them, the young people aged 20 to 35 are the main force who want to watch.

Most of them grew up watching the first Avatar and have deep feelings and high expectations for this sequel.

The proportion of male viewers who want to watch the show is slightly higher than that of female viewers, which shows that science fiction has a strong appeal to male audiences.

As the film's popularity continues to soar, related merchandise is also becoming increasingly popular.

Dolls, posters, and figurines featuring characters from the Avatar series and elements of Pandora have seen a surge in sales on e-commerce platforms.

Some movie fans placed orders early, hoping to experience the charm of Pandora before the film's release.

Some people even consider these merchandise items as precious collectibles, waiting for the film to be released and thus creating a connection with them.

This trend of generating buzz even before its release has instantly heightened the vigilance of many film companies in the industry!

In the conference room of Shanghai Film Group.

After Wang Jian'er entered the room, he slammed the release date poster of "Avatar 2" on the table and said in a deep voice, "Sicheng, can the post-production of 'Mozart in Outer Space' be moved forward? It must be released during the National Day holiday."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sicheng, clutching the newly printed special effects storyboard, frowned deeply: "Chairman Wang, the original plan was for the year-end holiday season, but now it's been compressed to two months. The music and 3D conversion both need to be expedited..."

"We have to get it done, even if it's urgent!" Wang Jian'er interrupted him, opened the box office data chart, and heavily poked the number of $27 billion in global box office for "Avatar". "Look at this data. When it was released, the screenings of other films were cut to only 15%. If it clashed with it during the Lunar New Year season, our family-friendly comedy would just be sending people to their deaths!"

Chen Sicheng remained silent, his heart filled with helplessness.

He had intended to polish this work, which had been in preparation for three years, to be perfect before releasing it, but the current situation simply did not allow him to follow his own ideas.

"Can't we release it during the Spring Festival?" he tried to persuade.

"By all accounts, blockbusters like 'The Wandering Earth 2' and 'Man Jiang Hong' are all aiming for the Spring Festival release next year. Are you confident you can compete with them?"

Chen Sicheng fell silent again.

Wang Jian'er sighed and said, "At present, only the National Day holiday is the most suitable. The holiday is long, and parents have a high demand to take their children to watch movies. Our fantasy elements can just capture this market."

He softened his tone, walked over to Chen Sicheng, and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "I know rushing to finish is tough, but sometimes a fighter jet is more important than perfection."

"Alright." Chen Sicheng took a deep breath and tried to muster his energy. "I'll go to the editing room right now and have the music team work in shifts 24/7. I'll personally oversee the special effects company. Two months, and I guarantee we'll have the final version!"

A smile flashed in Wang Jian'er's eyes: "Just ask if you need any resources, the company will fully support you. Once the film is a big hit, I'll treat the whole crew to a celebration in Sanya!"

"it is good!"

Chen Sicheng nodded emphatically and left quickly.

However, what the two were unaware of was that Zhang Chen, the chairman of Happy Twist, was also on the phone with Chen Fei.

"Mr. Chen, the post-production of our collaborative film, 'The Lone Ranger on the Moon,' is almost complete. I'd like to move the release date to the National Day holiday. What do you think?"

He had originally planned to release the film during the Lunar New Year holiday, but the sudden announcement that Avatar 2 would be released during the Lunar New Year holiday instantly increased the pressure on him.

A sci-fi comedy colliding with a true sci-fi blockbuster is unlikely to be a good match!
The soft tapping of a keyboard came through the phone. Chen Fei's voice was very calm: "Yes, this timing is quite suitable. The sci-fi elements and comedic core of 'Lone in the Moon' can fill the genre gap in the National Day film season. It's better than squeezing into the Lunar New Year season and fighting with a bunch of blockbusters."

Zhang Chen breathed a sigh of relief: "I was worried we wouldn't make it in time. There are only two scenes left for Shen Teng's voice acting, and the special effects shots just passed censorship..."

Chen Fei interrupted him: "Don't worry, the distribution department will cooperate with you to adjust the publicity and distribution schedule."

"Okay, then I'll have the team work even harder." Zhang Chen gripped his phone tightly. "When the final cut is out, I'll invite you to see it first."

"Don't just rush the work." Chen Fei's voice came through the receiver, tinged with a hint of teasing. "If the comedic pacing of Shen Teng is ruined during editing, this film will be ruined."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen quickly assured him, "Don't worry about that. Having edited so many movies, we're experts at this."

"That's good."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Chen went straight to the editing department without hesitation, intending to inform the post-production team.

……

The news of the completion of filming for "Echo" and "Raging Storm", as well as the release date announcement for "Tang Dynasty Ghost Stories", barely generated any buzz due to the release date announcement of "Avatar 2".

However, it's still early, so neither iQiyi nor Youku is in a hurry.

When the product is about to launch, a "bombardment" of promotion can be launched to maximize its exposure from the very beginning.

Feng Xiaogang even breathed a sigh of relief.

He was afraid that netizens would gather together to scold him, but now he can finally breathe a little easier.

Before we knew it, it was May 5th.

Another Hong Kong film, "Warriors of Future," has been released.

With Principal Koo himself starring and producing the film, and given that it's an action/sci-fi/adventure movie, it's generated a lot of buzz.

However, the film did not receive a very good response after its release.

Domestic audiences, accustomed to refined tastes, found the somewhat "rough" visuals of sci-fi films like "Warriors of Future" rather unappealing.

In comparison, the impact of this film is not even as great as that of "The Wandering Earth" from a few years ago.

As a result, the film was abandoned.

Three days passed in a flash, and the box office for the first weekend was 2.12 million yuan, with the daily box office dropping to 2000 million yuan.

On the 8th, the news of Dong Zijian and Sun Yi's official announcement of their divorce once again dominated the top trending topics.
"The two have separated amicably and will co-parent their child. Thank you for your concern."

The announcements from both studios featured the same solid-color background image, with even the punctuation marks conveying a sense of distance.

As soon as the news broke, Weibo's servers crashed instantly.

Netizens have been digging up sweet moments from the couple's past:
Examples include GIFs of Dong Zijian helping Sun Yi with her dress on the Cannes red carpet, candid photos of the two holding hands while shopping at a supermarket during Sun Yi's pregnancy, and the affectionate nickname "my one" used in variety shows...

These moments, once hailed as "love fairy tales in the Chinese entertainment industry," have now become sources of "unresolved regret."

Media outlets contacted the two individuals' agents, but the responses were all "It's a private matter, so we can't say more."

Some paparazzi wanted to dig deeper, but faced with Wang Jinghua, the former top agent in the Chinese entertainment industry, standing behind Dong Zijian, they didn't dare to make a move...

The hashtag #ThereAreNoFairyTalesOfLoveInChineseEntertainment# immediately went viral and became a trending topic.

Below the trending topic, there are many celebrity couples who were once deeply in love but are now like strangers:

Gao Shengyuan and Zhou Xun.

Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung.

Li Yapeng and the Princess.

Heraldry and Ma Yili.

Jia Nailiang and Li Xiaolu.

Huang Xiaoming and Yang Ying...

(End of this chapter)