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

Chapter 1402 The Battle Begins with Little Flower...

"After a 67-day run, the comedy/suspense film 'Man Jiang Hong,' directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Shen Teng and Yi Yangqianxi, has officially ended its theatrical run, grossing 35.23 billion yuan."

"Warmest congratulations! The Wandering Earth 2 has surpassed 71 billion yuan in total box office revenue! Becoming the second Chinese film to reach 70 billion yuan at the box office!"

"Congratulations to Director Guo Fan for successfully joining the 70 billion yuan box office director club and taking the top spot on the box office chart!"

"Youku announced the results of the web series 'Hunter's Guide to Crime,' which achieved an in-site index of over 10,000 and a total viewership of over 800 million by the end of its run, with a peak market share of 34.9%, marking a glorious conclusion!"

"The web series 'Echo,' directed by Feng Xiaogang, has officially concluded. During its exclusive broadcast on iQiyi, it garnered 54 trending topics on the platform, 445 million bullet comments, and held the top spot in the platform's daily drama popularity rankings for 13 consecutive days..."

"Feiyue Film & Television releases the latest casting announcement: 'Detective Chinatown 1990' will see the return of the original cast including Wang Baoqiang, Zhang Ruoyun, and Xiao Shenyang, with Bai Ke, Zhang Xincheng, and Yue Yunpeng making surprise appearances, and Jiang Wen in a special starring role..."

...

April 7th should have been the day when "Dragon Horse Spirit," starring Jackie Chan, Liu Haoqian, and Guo Qilin, was trending on social media.

But this morning, many new trending topics appeared online out of nowhere.

The news that "The Wandering Earth 2" broke 70 billion yuan has especially shocked the entire film and television industry!
It grossed 71 billion yuan in 67 days, with an average daily box office of over 1 million yuan. This is simply incredible!
In contrast, the film "Man Jiang Hong" released around the same time only managed to reach 35 billion yuan by resorting to questionable tactics and forcibly extending the key.

The marketing team was so confident that they would win the Spring Festival box office championship, but now they've turned out like this, which is truly disheartening.

Looking back, when the promotional campaign for "Man Jiang Hong" first started, it was so grand that it seemed like the box office champion was already firmly in its grasp.

The overwhelming publicity, the constant trending topics, the marketing accounts all praising the novel "suspense + comedy" setting, and the cast of actors were all heavily promoted.

However, after the film was released, audiences went to the theater and realized they had been thoroughly deceived.

The plot is marketed as a suspense thriller, but its logic is riddled with flaws.

The plot was forcibly pieced together for the final twist, with a bunch of plot holes dug in the beginning, but then filled in haphazardly.

The "amazing" moves made by related peripheral products are even more astonishing!
Making Qin Hui's token into an incense diffuser and creating cute bookmarks of Qin Hui—isn't this blatantly glorifying a treacherous minister?
After provoking public outrage, the official team sheepishly apologized and canceled the crowdfunding campaign, but this move had already alienated many viewers.

This series of actions caused the image of "Man Jiang Hong" to plummet in the eyes of the audience.

In contrast, "The Wandering Earth 2" took four years from preparation to filming, and the crew put in a lot of effort.

The pre-production special effects alone consumed countless manpower and resources, striving to present the most stunning sci-fi scenes.

After its release, thanks to its solid storyline and stunning special effects, its reputation soared, and audiences spontaneously promoted it.

The theme of "In the face of danger, only responsibility matters" resonated strongly with audiences, showcasing the boundless potential of Chinese science fiction films.

Now, "The Wandering Earth 2" has become the second Chinese film to gross 70 billion yuan, and Guo Fan has successfully entered the 70 billion yuan box office director club, taking the top spot on the box office charts.

In contrast, "Man Jiang Hong" ended up like this, and people in the industry felt ashamed for Dong Ping.

Huanxi Media has completely disappeared this time.

As the release of "The Wandering Earth 2" was repeatedly delayed, and the box office continued to grow slowly at a rate of millions per day, Dong Ping sat in his office, feeling like he was being scratched by a cat.

He both envied Guo Fan for achieving legendary status with a single work and was jealous of the substantial profits behind the 71 billion yuan box office.

But apart from smacking his lips, there was nothing he could do.

The celebration banquet for "Man Jiang Hong" was ultimately held on a small scale, and even mainstream media were not invited, for fear that if the commotion was too big, netizens would compare "35 billion" and "71 billion" and expose the true nature of the "Spring Festival champion" once again.

However, while he could "play dead" to avoid a life of leisure, iQiyi and Feng Xiaogang couldn't keep up the act.

With the conclusion of both "Echo" and "The Hunt for Crime," the online ridicule almost drowned out the former.

When "The Crime Hunter's Guide" concluded, it directly presented a solid report card:

With an in-site index exceeding 10,000, viewership surpassing 800 million, and a market share reaching a peak of 34.9%, even the commercial resources of the lead actors, Jin Shijia and Tan Jianci, have skyrocketed...

The data is laid out in plain sight; no further explanation is needed, and the audience can naturally discern its significance.

But what about "Echo"?

The final press release repeatedly emphasized "54 trending topics on the site", "445 million bullet comments", and "13 consecutive days of being the most popular on the site".

Anyone with eyes can see that this is an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the matter.

Who doesn't know how much of iQiyi's "internal popularity" is inflated?
The reason for the high number of bullet comments is simply because netizens complained that the plot was unrealistic.
If a topic trends a lot, it's most likely bought.

As for the actual viewership and ratings, which should have been mentioned, not a single word was said about them.

A film and television blogger posted a joking comment: "Facts speak louder than words. You can smell the cover-up even through the screen. 'The Hunting Guide' uses data to prove it's a hit, while 'Echo' uses data to prove it bought trending topics."

The comments section was filled with echoes of agreement:
"The plot of 'Echo' is only good for praising in the bullet comments, since everyone is here to complain."

"Has Feng Xiaogang run out of ideas? He made a suspense drama where solving the case relies entirely on coincidences, and there's more romance than crime scenes."

"The contrast is too stark. Both are crime dramas, but one breaks out of the circle because of its quality, while the other relies on marketing to gain attention."

On iQiyi's side, Gong Yu looked at these comments and felt a pain in her chest from anger.

He was anxious to get his PR team to delete posts and control comments, but the more they tried to control the comments, the louder the mockery became.

Feng Xiaogang, on the other hand, remained calm and continued filming "If You Are the One 3," as if the failures of "Echo" and "Hachiko" had nothing to do with him.

"Director Feng, the online criticism is too fierce. Should we issue a statement to explain?" the assistant asked cautiously.

Feng Xiaogang, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, didn't even look up: "What's there to explain? The more you explain, the more wrong you'll get. Just wait for 'If You Are the One 3' to be released and let the box office speak for itself."

He is still very confident in his ability to "rehash old ideas"!
Little did people know that after the consecutive failures of "Echo" and "Hachi: A Dog's Tale," the audience's trust in him had already been completely exhausted...

Meanwhile, the news of the casting for "Detective Chinatown 1990" also caused quite a stir online.

"The original cast is back! Wang Baoqiang, Zhang Ruoyun, and Xiao Shenyang are all here. I'm going to rush for this wave of nostalgia!"

"Bai Ke, Zhang Xincheng, and Yue Yunpeng have joined the cast? This lineup is something else, it's sure to be hilarious."

"Haha, there's something to look forward to in next year's Spring Festival film season. I'm just waiting for 'Detective Chinatown 1990,' all other films can get lost."

Netizens went wild in the comments section of the cast announcement, expressing their high expectations for the return of the original cast.

After all, the reputation, nostalgia, and film quality accumulated from the previous installments speak for themselves. Just seeing those familiar names makes many viewers feel "it's a sure thing."

The most surprising announcement was the news of Jiang Wen's special starring role. "Wow? Jiang Wen is actually making a cameo appearance in the 'Detective Chinatown' series? I never expected this combination!"

"Although 'Gone with the Bullets' and 'Hidden Man' received mixed reviews, Jiang Wen's acting alone is enough to make them worth watching!"

"My expectations are off the charts... It's been so long since we've seen Jiang Wen make an appearance. I wonder what kind of amazing acting he'll deliver this time?"

Even though Jiang Wen's recent works have received lukewarm responses, Zhang Muzhi in "Let the Bullets Fly" has long been a classic in the hearts of movie fans.

That performance, so skillful yet imbued with a touch of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry), is still being revisited and savored to this day.

Coupled with his inherent dual aura of being both a director and an actor, he always manages to pique people's curiosity about his roles.

Even if it's just a cameo, everyone is confident that he can bring out a unique flavor in his performance.

Meanwhile, while several TV dramas were enjoying great popularity, the newly released film "The Spirit of the Dragon Horse" quietly flopped.

The number of screenings in cinemas has been declining, and the opening score on Douban is stuck at 6 points.

The audience's reviews as they left the theater were remarkably consistent:
"There are too many nostalgic references, which makes people feel awkward. Jackie Chan keeps bringing up his past experiences of filming action movies, as if he is forcibly selling nostalgia."

"The father-daughter storyline was too bland. Liu Haoqian, who played the daughter, showed almost no emotional fluctuations throughout the entire film, and her scenes with Jackie Chan felt like they were separated by a layer of glass."

"I think Jackie Chan is really getting old. His action scenes are noticeably slower, and his fighting style is weak and powerless. Sigh!"

"This new 'Zhang Yimou girl' isn't all that great either. Her crying scenes rely entirely on exaggerated facial expressions. No wonder netizens say she's 'forever a wooden beauty'..."

Just as "Dragon Horse Spirit" was being ridiculed, "Let's Shake the Sun Together" suddenly announced its start of filming!
Li Gengxi's team acted swiftly, releasing a set of unedited photos of her at the opening ceremony that same day, with the caption "The accumulation and breakthrough of the new generation of actresses".

Although Liu Haoqian wasn't mentioned in the text, it was clearly a marketing ploy that targeted his weaknesses.

"Both are young actresses, but Li Gengxi's crying scenes are so good, while some people's performances in big productions are so perfunctory."

"Reject 'resource-backed' actors! True actors speak through their work. Looking forward to Li Gengxi's new role!"

"The No.1 rising starlet can only be rivaled by Li Gengxi and Zhang Jingyi..."

It's obvious to anyone with eyes that the production team behind "Let's Shake the Sun Together" is using the negative reviews of "Dragon Horse Spirit" to establish Li Gengxi's image as a "powerful young actress".

After all, the two are of similar age and are often compared.

Now that Liu Haoqian's reputation has declined, it is a good opportunity for his competitors to seize the market.

As expected, soon online articles began comparing Li Gengxi and Liu Haoqian, comparing them in every aspect, from acting skills and resources to public image.

Liu Haoqian's team, of course, didn't sit idly by either, quickly releasing videos of her practicing dance in her early years to salvage her image...

A war without gunfire has quietly begun!

The young talents always fight like this, seizing every opportunity to push forward.

One act ends and another begins; whoever can capture the audience's heart will gain a foothold in the film and television industry.

Just then, Jiang Xuerou seized the opportunity and announced the online release of the web series "The Beginning" starring Zhao Jinmai through the official account of Feiyue Film and Television.

"Release date: July 15th, the summer blockbuster season begins!"

The announcement caused an uproar in the previously calm TV drama market, as if a hornet's nest had been stirred up.

Less than half a day later, the production team of "Jade Bone Distant" followed suit, releasing their own release date poster:

"On July 20th, exclusively on Tencent Video, join us for a fantasy adventure!"

The leaked photos of Xiao Zhan and Ren Min in period costumes quickly went viral, and fans immediately flooded the comments section with messages of "anticipation".

Following closely behind, "Chang Xiang Si" also announced its release date as July 22nd:
"The fateful entanglement of three men and one woman, exclusively broadcast on Youku, will bring longing to life this summer."

With Yang Zi paired with Zhang Wanyi, Deng Wei, and Tan Jianci, the trailer alone has whetted the audience's appetite.

The most brilliant move was "Lotus Tower," which simply announced its premiere date in line with "The Beginning": "July 18th, iQiyi premieres, Li Lianhua arrives with the tower, let the affairs of the martial world be settled in the martial world."

As soon as Cheng Yi's ancient costume look was released, netizens jokingly called it "the pre-ordered ceiling of summer movie visuals".

In just a few days, four highly anticipated dramas have been scheduled to premiere in July, instantly igniting the fierce competition of the summer movie season!

Young viewers and netizens have gone crazy!
"My goodness, is July a month overflowing with period dramas? 'Jade Bone', 'Longing for You', and 'Lotus Pavilion' are all being released in a bunch of them, I can't choose any of them!"

"The Beginning is a suspense drama, which happens to be different from those three period dramas. I wonder if Zhao Jinmai can break through this time?"

"This is like a battle of gods! Fans from all sides have started competing on the number of pre-orders, and Weibo is almost flooded with comments. Holy crap, this is insane."

While netizens enjoyed the spectacle, those in the industry knew the undercurrents running beneath the surface.

The summer season has always been the golden period for TV dramas to compete for viewership. Whoever can seize the opportunity first will have an advantage in the second half of the year in terms of investment and awards.

As a suspense drama, "The Beginning" intended to avoid competing with period dramas, but unexpectedly it forced three other dramas to emerge, turning the TV drama market from "sharing the cake" to "grabbing the cake".

Jiang Xueruo glanced at the surge in appointment data in the backend, then at the competitors' promotional campaigns, but remained calm. Instead, she turned to the marketing director beside her and said:
"Let's put in more effort to popularize the 'infinite flow' setting of 'The Beginning' and highlight its novelty. We won't compete with period dramas on looks, but on the impact of the plot."

The publicity director nodded in agreement, unable to hide his anticipation!
The battle for summer box office supremacy has only just begun; many more exciting shows are yet to come.

The smoke from the film market hasn't cleared yet, and the television drama market is already in complete chaos.

Clearly, no one will be able to stay idle this summer.

On Feiyue Films' side, Chen Fei was also scrolling through news about the fierce competition among summer dramas on his phone, but his face remained expressionless.

For him, the scheduling of these dramas and the fan disputes are just a ripple in the normal course of the industry.

Despite the excitement, it didn't affect his current focus.

At this moment, a thick stack of scripts was spread out on his desk, with the title "The Three-Body Problem" prominently displayed on the cover.

This is the real big deal.

Since last year, he has been working with his team of screenwriters to polish the script of "The Three-Body Problem". The first volume alone was revised three times, and it took nearly ten months to finally produce a satisfactory final draft.

Now that the script is finalized, the most crucial step is to set the investment standards for this project before it is officially approved!
(End of this chapter)