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

Chapter 1368 This is a tough battle we simply cannot afford to lose...

"This morning, the 2022 freshmen of Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Shanxi Film Academy welcomed their enrollment. Teens in Times members Ma Jiaqi and Song Yaxuan appeared at the Central Academy of Drama to give media interviews..."

"Chen Kaige's new film 'Boyhood' has officially concluded its run, grossing 1.13 million yuan at the box office."

"Happy Twist and Feiyue Films jointly announced that the comedy/sci-fi film 'The Lone Ranger on the Moon,' directed by Zhang Chiyu and starring Shen Teng and Ma Li, will be released on September 30."

"Shanghai Film Group, Wanda Pictures, and Alibaba Pictures jointly announced that the fantasy/comedy film 'Mozart in Outer Space,' directed by Chen Sicheng and starring Huang Bo, Rong Zishan, Yao Chen, Fan Wei, Jia Bing, and Huang Yangxi, will be released on September 30."

"Huang Xiaoming's 'The Battle of Roses' has come to an end, and Zhang Han's 'The Gentlemen of East Eight District' will be launched in the next slot."

...

The capital city was washed clean by the autumn rain in September. The plane tree leaves at the entrance of the Central Academy of Drama's Changping campus had just turned light yellow when they were trampled by the throngs of media and fans.

Ma Jiaqi and Song Yaxuan, members of the boy group TNT, wore simple white T-shirts and walked into the school gate surrounded by staff.

In an instant, the sound of camera shutters rained down like a dense downpour!

This was the most eye-catching scene on the day the new students of the Central Academy of Drama registered, but it also made many senior students who had not yet graduated feel a little dazed.

Ten years ago, this was never a celebrity's domain.

Back then, the Central Academy of Drama's recruitment posters featured the slogan "Shaping real people," the exams tested the Stanislavski system, and the graduation screenings featured small-theater plays.

In the past, students would stay in the rehearsal hall until the early hours of the morning with "An Actor Prepares" in hand, discussing the subtext of their characters rather than trending search terms.

In contrast, the Beijing Film Academy is the cradle of stars, where the cinematic language and commercial film logic are naturally suited to the image industry.

But now, the gates of the Central Academy of Drama are also opening to the influx of students.

Looking around, Ma Jiaqi's fans were holding up light boards outside the cordon, while Song Yaxuan's support banner was hanging outside the teaching building.

Even in the major section of the freshman registration form, the number of applicants for "Musical Theatre Performance" is nearly 30% higher than that for "Drama and Film Performance"!

The latter was once the Central Academy of Drama's proudest achievement.

According to media statistics, 15% of the new undergraduate students at the Central Academy of Drama this year have experience in idol groups, while ten years ago this number was less than 1%.

The bulletin board at the school gate lists outstanding alumni from previous years: Gong Li, Chen Daoming, Zhang Ziyi...

This year, however, the names of several popular celebrities have been added next to their photos.

As Chen Fei sat in his car, his expression was complicated as he passed the bulletin board: "It used to be said that the Beijing Film Academy produced stars and the Central Academy of Drama produced actors, but now that line is becoming increasingly blurred."

Today is the day that "Parasite" is holding an exchange meeting at the Central Academy of Drama, so in addition to Chen Fei, Liu Yifei, Han Jianu, and Zhou Xun are also in the car.

Zhang Yi was the only one missing, because he was filming "The Long Journey Home" abroad at the time.

Hearing Chen Fei's words, Han Jianu curled her lips and retorted without mercy: "The Central Academy of Drama's prestige is just so-so. Since the era of explosive growth in internet traffic, this place has been assimilated."

Of course, the situation at the Beijing Film Academy is even more serious than here. They haven't produced a single actor in recent years; they're all just "traffic stars" (idols with high online popularity)...

Zhou Xun shrugged and casually said, "The main problem is that the teaching quality isn't very good either. These days, the reputation of being from Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Shanghai Theatre Academy is just a way to gild an actor's resume. Being from a professional acting background sounds better than being an extra."

Liu Yifei blinked: "If things continue like this, won't the mainland film and television market repeat the mistakes of the Hong Kong film market back then?"

Her words were like a pebble thrown into the silence of the car.

Han Jianu and Zhou Xun looked at Chen Fei almost simultaneously, their faces filled with doubt, waiting for his explanation.

As the head of Feiyue Film & Television, he is more aware than anyone of the undercurrents in the market.

The decline of Hong Kong cinema, from its heyday to its fall, was largely due to the short-sighted pursuit of profit by capital, which treated actors as commodities on an assembly line, ultimately eroding the audience's trust.

And now, it seems that the mainland film and television industry is following this old path?

Chen Fei tapped his fingertips lightly on his knee, gazing at the Central Academy of Drama gate flashing past the window, and slowly shook his head: "I won't repeat the same mistake."

"Why?" Han Jianu pressed. "Aren't there tons of investors chasing after traffic these days?"

"Because the mainland market is big enough to accommodate different demands." Chen Fei's voice was steady. "The Hong Kong market is only so big. If capital flocks to chase hot topics, it's easy to end up dead ends."

But we are different. We have a fan base that likes traffic, an audience that values ​​acting skills and scripts, and even a niche market that specializes in art films and documentaries.

The soil is thick enough that it won't collapse just because one type of plant is growing wildly.

He paused, then turned his attention to the drawbacks: "But there are definitely problems. Look at the movies currently showing in theaters, how many of them rely on popular celebrities to make a splash?"
Moreover, the phenomenon of fans manipulating box office figures and controlling online comments is rampant... But ordinary viewers are not fools. After being disappointed by bad acting and scripts a few times, they never want to go to the cinema again.

What they fear isn't spending money, but spending money and then being mistreated, feeling like they're being used as an ATM by capital.

Zhou Xun nodded in agreement: "Wasn't 'Broken Bridge' a good example a while ago? Wang Junkai's fans drove up the pre-sales to a high level, but after watching it, ordinary viewers criticized it a lot, and the box office plummeted. This is a typical example of overdrawing trust."

It's worth mentioning that this movie was positioned as a direct competitor to "Better Days" after its release!
Ma Sichun VS Zhou Dongyu.

Wang Junkai VS Yi Yangqianxi.

However, let alone comparable performance, the box office and word-of-mouth have plummeted like a flood. In just over half a month, the number of new additions has dropped to less than 100 million.

Chen Fei gazed out the car window, his eyes flickering with uncertainty: "The fan economy can sustain a temporary surge in popularity, but it can't sustain a long-term market."

What truly draws audiences to the cinema is always the word "worth it"!
Either the story is moving, the actors have solid acting skills, or it can show people something new.

The blurring of lines between the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy is not terrible; what is terrible is that the entire industry has forgotten that an actor's duty is to act, and a film's duty is to tell a story.

Liu Yifei listened attentively and concluded with, "So, popularity may fade, but good works will not?"

"Correct!"

Chen Fei nodded emphatically.

As soon as he finished speaking, several thoughts had already raced through his mind.

This surge of traffic may seem overwhelming, but it actually hides huge cracks!
Audiences are becoming less tolerant of shoddy productions and have a stronger desire for "high-quality" works than ever before.

This is both a crisis for the entire industry and an opportunity for Leap Film & Television.

As long as we adhere to the bottom line of "content is king," avoid following trends and producing homogenous dramas with only superficial changes, avoid being swayed by popularity in casting, and insist on polishing each work to a solid level, we can stand firm in this reshuffling.

While other companies are struggling with the bubble of online traffic, Feiyue Films can gradually win back the hearts of its "heartbroken" audiences with a series of high-quality works.

Just like how "Parasite" swept awards with its script and acting, "Ne Zha" moved audiences across the country with its localized story, and "The Wandering Earth" is now in the midst of post-production, all aiming to become "high-quality" films!
The path ahead is actually quite clear.

No matter how noisy the outside world is, as long as we stick to the word "high-quality", we won't have to worry about not being able to get through it!
On the other hand, Chen Fei strengthened his resolve and clarified the path he should take in the future.

On the other side, however, Wang Jian'er frowned, unable to hide his irritation.

He really didn't expect that just as Shanghai Film Group officially announced the release date of "Mozart in Outer Space", Happy Twist also officially announced the release date of "The Lone Ranger".

Now the two films are clashing, both aiming for the National Day holiday release.

Faced with such a formidable opponent, Wang Jian'er took it very seriously and even held a special internal meeting for it.

His only goal was to prevent "Mozart from Outer Space" from losing!

The air conditioning in the conference room was on full blast. Wang Jian'er slammed the official poster for "Walking Alone on the Moon" onto the table, his fingertip jabbing heavily at Shen Teng and Ma Li's names:

"Everyone, pay attention! This isn't just a regular scheduling conflict; it's a head-on clash with Feiyue Films!"
"I don't need to elaborate on how powerful their distribution channels are, right? Their nationwide theatrical release rate is second to none." He glanced around, his tone carrying an undeniable seriousness: "The Happy Twist comedy brand, coupled with the trump card of Shen Teng and Ma Li, is powerful enough on its own."

With Feiyue Films backing them up, their publicity and distribution resources are likely to be spread to every corner of subway and bus stations.

Therefore, our publicity campaign must be maximized. Starting today, all pre-event advertising on all platforms will double. Huang Bo's roadshow will be scheduled until the day before National Day, and Mozart doll merchandise must be displayed in all major shopping malls.

Someone in the corner muttered quietly, "Chairman Wang, our advantages aren't bad either, are they? Huang Bo's acting skills are undeniable; he appeals to all ages."

The concept of 'Mozart,' this adorable alien creature, is inherently family-friendly. The panda-shaped alien from the trailer alone has already trended on social media three times.

Another planner nodded in agreement: "That's right. As long as the film is of good quality, even if it's less popular, it should be able to hold its own against them by word of mouth. After all, there are many viewers during the National Day holiday, so it's not an either-or battleground."

Wang Jian'er tapped his fingertips on the table, which was taken as tacit agreement with this statement.

But he added, "Quality is the bottom line. The post-production team needs to keep a close eye on things, especially the special effects for Mozart. There can't be any mistakes."

There are also scenes between Huang Bo and Rong Zishan. We'll cut several versions and release them, emphasizing the 'fantasy' and 'father-son relationship'. This is the biggest difference between our work and the hardcore sci-fi comedy "Lone Wolf on the Moon".

Also, we need to coordinate with Wanda and Alibaba again to try and make the premiere bigger, and invite some family-oriented KOLs to preview the film, thus opening up the market to family audiences.

Finally, Wang Jian'er stood up and glanced at everyone present: "Feiyue Film and Television is strong, but we are not pushovers either."

"Mozart in Outer Space" has been in preparation for three years; we can't afford to fail at the last hurdle! From today onwards, everyone is on high alert; we must win this battle for the National Day box office!

"Yes, Chairman Wang!"

A chorus of responses rang out in the conference room.

However, only Wang Jian'er himself knew that facing the formidable Feiyue Film and Television, even a draw would require his utmost effort!
The sunlight outside the window was blinding. He rubbed his temples, with only one thought in his mind: "He simply cannot afford to lose this tough battle."

Having just taken over from Ren Zhonglun, now is the time to produce results.

He's betting big on this movie!
If it's a box office success, all is well; but if it fails, there will definitely be a lot of trouble afterwards.

Although he might not end up like Jiao Hongfen, who was ousted from his position as chairman of China Film Group by Fu Ruoqing, he would inevitably leave a bad impression of being "incompetent" in the eyes of his superiors.

……

There weren't many blockbuster films released in theaters in September.

Among the movies currently showing, "Parasite" and "New Gods: Yang Jian" are still the most popular.

However, the box office results of the two films were completely different extremes.

Parasite is heading toward 15 billion yuan at the box office.

In contrast, "The New Gods: Yang Jian" only grossed a little over 500 million yuan per day after being released for more than ten days, sealing its fate as a failure.

There is a movie called "Brother, Hello" released on the 9th of the second week, starring Ma Li, Chang Yuan, and Wei Xiang. It is a comedy.

These types of films are currently showing great potential in theaters; with just a little promotion, they quickly gain popularity.

In the TV drama market, the most popular are "The Battle of Roses" starring Huang Xiaoming and "Gentlemen of East Eight Districts" starring Zhang Han.

Although the two dramas were released one after the other, their reputations were like two halves, one soaring to the top and the other crashing into the mud.

In "The War of Roses," Huang Xiaoming completely shed the image of a "domineering president." His portrayal of lawyer Gu Nian was calm and capable, with clear logic in courtroom debates and a distinct portrayal of Gu Nian's vulnerability and resilience in private.

Some viewers compared his roles from a few years ago with screenshots and commented: "I always felt that he was playing himself before, but this time he is really playing Gu Nian. Even the restraint in his eyes is full of emotion."

The film has a stable rating of 7.3 on Douban, and the comments section is full of positive reviews such as "Brother Xiaoming has finally found the right acting style" and "He is fully focused on his career after the divorce".

Some people even dug up his early interview where he said he "wanted to be a talented actor," and exclaimed, "Now I finally believe it!"
In contrast, Zhang Han's "Gentlemen of East Eight Districts" was criticized and trended on social media from the very first day of its broadcast.

The male actors' winking and eye-rolling "domineering CEO" interactions, the stereotypical portrayal of female characters, and especially Zhang Han's character Tong Yu's frequent greasy lines and actions are all problematic.

For example, forcibly grabbing a female companion's wrist or using lines like "I'll take care of you" to pressure her was edited into a "compilation of oil field stories" and widely circulated by netizens.

The show's Douban rating immediately dropped below 3 points, and within a few days it plummeted to 2.1 points, making it one of the lowest-rated shows of the year!

A large number of sharp comments have emerged online:
"Zhang Han is probably re-enacting the domineering CEO script from ten years ago."

"The audience has long since stopped buying into this, yet he's still indulging in self-admiration. It's truly ridiculous."

"The fishpond owner is back online, and has evolved into the oilpond owner. I suggest you don't watch this show, it's fucking too cringeworthy!"

What's even more ironic than the plot is that, although the four male leads in the show claim to possess "the charm of mature men," they reveal a complete lack of respect for women.

Even the actress's fans couldn't help but complain: "These aren't gentlemen, they're clearly spoiled brats who haven't been weaned!"

The difference between the two dramas is even more obvious in the data.

The viewership rating for "The War of Roses" has consistently exceeded 1, and related clips on short video platforms have garnered over 50 billion views.

In contrast, "Gentlemen of the East 8th District" not only suffered poor ratings, but was also boycotted by netizens, and the platform quietly reduced its recommendation slots.

One person summarized on social media: "Huang Xiaoming proved with one drama that he can be reborn by letting go of his pride; Zhang Han, on the other hand, proved with his greasy acting that clinging to old tricks will only lead to being completely abandoned by the audience."

The TV drama market in September was like a mirror, revealing who was seriously honing their roles and who was just coasting on past successes.

Meanwhile, at Feiyue Films, "Tales of the Tang Dynasty" is ready to be released!
Several other new dramas that were in production also wrapped up filming in early September.

"The crime drama series 'Raging Waves,' produced by Feiyue Films, directed by Xu Jizhou, and starring Zhang Songwen and Zhou Yiwei, is currently in post-production and is expected to premiere exclusively on Youku early next year."

"Filming for 'The Beginning' and 'The Crime Hunter's Guide' has wrapped up..."

"Filming for 'Joy of Life 2' has wrapped up. Lord Fan returns to Jingzhou, and the power struggles in the imperial court begin. Stay tuned!"

With the release of news about several new dramas by Feiyue Films, WeChat groups in the film and television industry immediately exploded, with screenshots and discussions flooding in like a waterfall.

At an industry conference, a producer exclaimed, "Feiyue Films is going to dominate the blockbuster dramas of the next two years!"

Some chimed in: "While others are still jumping on the bandwagon with sweet romance and historical dramas, they've already covered crime, suspense, science fiction, and political intrigue, and each one has something new. This isn't just making dramas; it's clearly teaching the market a lesson."

What's even more astonishing is Feiyue Film & Television's production capacity!
When the owners of several film and television companies met privately, they all focused their discussions on Feiyue Films' production achievements.

"To simultaneously develop so many dramas in one year, and with top-notch production teams for each one, their funding and management capabilities are truly terrifying."

"I used to think they were amazing at making movies, unmatched in the industry. Now it seems they're going to monopolize the TV series field too."

"There's nothing we can do. They have a large team of screenwriters, and the Shanxi Film Academy is constantly training support staff. They're very confident!"

Amid the discussions, some people started inquiring about collaborations, some were busy studying Feiyue Films' topic selection logic, and others joked in the group: "Why don't we all work for Feiyue? So we won't get ripped off by them."

Behind this joke lies the industry's awe of Feiyue Films!

Because while others are still chasing trends, Feiyue Films has already started creating trends!

Before we knew it, the first ten days of September had passed.

By mid-month, Wanda Pictures' self-controlled new drama "Brother, Hello" was officially launched, and its box office revenue reached 1.46 million yuan in the first three days of the weekend.

Having finally seized an opportunity, Wanda's newly appointed chairman, Zhang Lin, is ambitious and wants to launch a major publicity campaign.

Just as he was investing heavily in publicity and preparing to go all in, another young heartthrob was caught in a scandal!
(End of this chapter)