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

Chapter 1428 A brand new film and television ecosystem empire is about to begin!

"The crime film 'Saving Suspects,' directed by Zhang Yimou's daughter Zhang Mo, grossed 1703.7 million yuan on its opening day."

"Longxiang Capital issued another announcement: it acquired another 30% stake in Wanda Investment for 18.66 billion yuan... With the completion of this transaction, Wanda Film has been 100% acquired by Longxiang Capital... The business has been completely separated from Wanda Group..."

"Big Shot Entertainment Culture Communication issued a notice: The comedy film 'Hot Wave,' directed by and starring Jia Ling, and featuring Lei Jiayin, Zhang Xiaofei, Yang Zi, Sha Yi, and others, is scheduled for release during the 24 Spring Festival. Stay tuned!"

"..."

November has just begun, and there have been quite a few hot news stories in the film and television industry.

First, the online reviews of Zhang Mo's "Saving Suspects" were polarized.

Male and female viewers exhibited completely different viewing philosophies, resulting in a mix of positive and negative reviews on various rating websites.

One female viewer commented: "This movie is simply a masterpiece from a female perspective! From the workplace dilemmas of female lawyers to the experiences of female victims behind the cases, it is portrayed with such exquisite detail."

The scenes between Kara Hui and Zhang Xiaofei perfectly captured the complex emotions between women, leaving a lasting impression.

Some positive reviews stated: "The pacing of the plot is superb, with one twist after another, making it impossible to predict what will happen next."

Moreover, the film offers a profound exploration of judicial justice, going beyond a simple good-versus-evil dichotomy to delve into the humanity behind the law, making it worth watching twice.

However, there were also quite a few negative reviews.

One male viewer complained: "The plot is too drawn out. In order to highlight the plight of women, many scenes are deliberately sentimental, which is very awkward to watch. The reasoning part is also full of loopholes and cannot stand up to scrutiny. It feels like the plot is being forced forward."

Some netizens bluntly stated: "Zhang Xiaofei's acting skills and her face destined her to be unable to carry a leading role. The contrast with Kara Hui standing together is too obvious."

It's obvious that her performance was very stiff, failing to capture the complexity of the character and wasting such a good subject matter.

"Why is the male perspective filmed so disgustingly? It's like all men are villains, speechless..."

Before we knew it, the topic of gender antagonism had been brought up again.

However, while the film's reputation was in controversy, Jia Ling was not idle.

Riding on Zhang Xiaofei's popularity, she immediately announced the release date of "Hot and Spicy".

Thus, the first film scheduled for release during next year's Spring Festival has been revealed!
This film, adapted from the Japanese movie "100 Yen Love," tells the story of a woman who has been a homebody for many years, who meets a boxing coach and overcomes a series of challenges to start a passionate life.

Rumors circulate online that Jia Ling even "sacrificed" and "burned" herself for this movie!

The news immediately sparked heated discussions and became the biggest highlight of the film.

Netizens are hoping that she can create another box office miracle like "Hi Mom".

However, before the two films could officially gain popularity, the announcement of Wanda Cinema's change of ownership was released.

The entire internet was in an uproar!

Since the beginning of the year when Longxiang Capital announced its acquisition of a 30% stake in Wanda, many people have already guessed some things.

Then, during the summer vacation, another 30% was acquired...

Since then, Wanda has completely relinquished its control.

Now, with the Lunar New Year film season approaching, Wanda is taking the opportunity to hand over the remaining 30%...

This means that Wanda Film, including its production, distribution, and cinema businesses, has been completely separated from Wanda Group and become the property of Longxiang Capital.

For a time, there was a chorus of exclamations both inside and outside the industry!
The landscape of the film and television industry seems to have changed subtly overnight, with everyone speculating about Longxiang Capital's next move on Wanda Film and what new variables it will bring to the industry.

After Wanda Film separated from Wanda Group, can it carve out a new path in the fiercely competitive film and television market under the leadership of its new owner?
All of this is full of unknowns...

But in reality, how to operate "Wanda" is ultimately a matter that needs to be considered from the perspective of capital.

For the film industry, this news points to only one conclusion: Longxiang Capital has become an object of currying favor for the vast majority of people!

With its subsidiaries Wanda Cinema and Pan Asia Cinema Line, two major domestic cinema chains, Longxiang Capital has become a behemoth in the downstream distribution sector.

It's no exaggeration to say that if anyone offends Longxiang Capital, they can precisely control the film scheduling.

If you want your movie to be a one-day wonder, schedule it for a midnight showing.

If they want your box office to flop, they'll just cut your screenings to single digits, and you won't have a chance to complain.

After all, we are no longer in an era where blockbusters can control theaters. Now, even top blockbusters cannot do without the support of theaters' screening schedules. Theaters are the key to controlling the "life and death of box office revenue"!

"It's over, completely ruined."

Feng Xiaogang slumped on the sofa, with only this one thought in his mind.

He already had a deep-seated grudge against Feiyue Films, and Chen Fei even specially arranged for "All In" to be released during the Lunar New Year holiday to target his "If You Are the One 3" (in his own opinion).

But now things have taken a turn for the worse. The top two cinema chains in China have both fallen into the hands of Longxiang Capital, and Chen Fei is the big boss of Longxiang Capital.

When it comes to suppressing the screenings of "If You Are the One 3", isn't it just a matter of them saying a few words?

In a panic, he almost fumbled for his phone with both hands and feet, his fingers trembling as he dialed Gong Yu's number, hoping to find a solution.

The majority of the investment in this film came from iQiyi, while the share from Dongyang Mela Pictures, which he founded, was actually not that large.

If there's a real loss, iQiyi will definitely suffer the biggest loss.

Meanwhile, in iQiyi's office, Gong Yu frowned as she looked at the caller ID "Feng Xiaogang" on her phone screen.

He genuinely didn't want to take the job, but he had no choice.

By this point, he truly felt that "Feng Kuzi" was a jinx!

The project didn't achieve anything, but it caused a lot of trouble. All he did was cause trouble all day long, and we had to find him endless work.

As soon as the call connected, Gong Yu spoke before Feng Xiaogang could even speak, saying, "I know the situation, and I've seen the news online."

Feng Xiaogang hurriedly pressed on, his voice trembling: "Then... what about the screening schedule for 'If You Are the One 3'? If Chen Fei blocks our screenings, the movie is completely doomed!"

“You don’t need to worry.” Gong Yu interrupted him again, her tone still calm. “The most urgent thing now is not to panic, but to win over more allies.”

I will immediately contact companies like China Film Group and Bona Film Group to get them to join the joint distribution effort.

"Many hands make light work. As long as there are enough distributors, even if Longxiang Capital wants to reduce the number of screenings, they'll have to think twice. They can always maintain a basic number of screenings."

"Okay! Thank you so much, Mr. Gong! Thank you so much..."

Feng Xiaogang's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled down. He breathed a long sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.

Before he could say another polite word, the phone went dead.

Gong Yu has already hung up the phone...

Feng Xiaogang stared blankly at his phone for a few seconds, then flew into a rage and slammed it onto the sofa: "Damn it! What kind of attitude is this!"

Despite his outbursts, he knew in his heart that he had no right to argue with Gong Yu.

In recent years, his works have suffered a continuous decline in reputation and box office failures, and he is no longer the influential "Director Feng" he once was.

Everyone thought he was no good anymore and looked down on him.

"I have to prove myself!"

Feng Xiaogang clenched his fists, a fierce glint in his eyes.

No one helps me to reach the top of the mountain by walking on the snow!
"If You Are the One 3" absolutely cannot lose; this is his last chance to turn things around!
...At the same time, in the grand conference room on the top floor of the Longxiang Capital Building, the atmosphere was solemn yet enthusiastic.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city skyline stretches out in rows, while inside, several key decision-makers in the current film and television industry sit on either side of a long table.

Besides Chen Fei, who rarely sets foot here, there are also Zhou Shouzi, vice chairman of Longxiang Capital; Huo Qigang, vice chairman of Pan Asia Cinema Line; Ye Ning, chairman of Xiangyu Cinema Line (formerly Huayi Cinema Line); and Zhang Peiming, who was just appointed as the interim head of Wanda Film.

Chen Fei rarely attends capital meetings in person; he usually deploys them remotely via video.

But today, he must personally oversee the integration of the three cinema chains and their development plan for the next ten years.

"The main reason I've called you all here today is to finalize the integration plan for the cinema sector and its future development direction."

After settling down, Chen Fei got straight to the point, swiping his finger across the tablet to bring up the operational data of the three cinema chains.

“Pan-Asia Cinemas’ high-end cinema share, Xiangyu Cinemas’ art-house film audience base, and Wanda Cinemas’ nationwide coverage density each have their advantages, but there are also problems of overlapping resources and decentralized management. So the first step we must take is to achieve unified management.”

Before he could finish speaking, Huo Qigang spoke first, his tone cautious: "The three cinema chains have quite different geographical layouts and customer groups."

For example, Wanda has a high penetration rate in third- and fourth-tier cities, while Pan Asia focuses on the high-end market in first- and second-tier cities. Would a direct merger lead to management chaos?

Chen Fei shook his head and emphasized, "It's not a simple merger, but rather 'unified brand, segmented operation'."

Next, all cinema chains will be renamed 'Longxiang Cinema Chain' to strengthen brand recognition. Qi Gang, you will continue to serve as Vice Chairman, overseeing the upgrading of high-end cinemas and the formulation of service standards.

Ye Ning was appointed General Manager, responsible for building the art-house cinema chain and the scheduling system for art films. Pei Ming was appointed General Manager, leading the renovation of cinemas in lower-tier markets and community movie-watching services.

Finance, marketing, and supply chain are all integrated. For example, the procurement of high-end cinema equipment in the capital can directly leverage Wanda's nationwide supplier resources, reducing costs by at least 15%.

Zhang Peiming then asked, "What about Wanda Cinema's original production and distribution businesses? Will they be directly incorporated into the cinema chain sector, or will there be another arrangement?"

"Wanda Cinema's production and distribution team has been fully integrated into the Feiyue Film and Television system."

Chen Fei gave a clear answer directly.

He then showed the pre-prepared organizational chart and explained: "Feiyue Films is responsible for upstream content creation, while Longxiang Cinemas controls downstream screening channels. The previously scattered business lines will now form a closed loop."

For example, the future premiere of "The Three-Body Problem" can utilize Wanda's IMAX theaters for a simultaneous nationwide screening, Pan-Asia's art-house cinemas for director Q&A sessions, and Xiangyu's extensive distribution channels for audience meet-and-greets. This combined approach will allow for simultaneous growth in box office revenue and positive word-of-mouth.

Zhang Peiming looked at the data on the lower-tier market in his hand, his face showing difficulty: "But Chairman Chen, cinemas in third- and fourth-tier cities are facing a big problem now."

Young people prefer watching short videos and are less willing to go to the cinema. After renovating the cinema, how can we attract them back?

This question perfectly captured Chen Fei's assessment of future industry trends.

He leaned forward slightly and emphasized, "This is the second key point I want to make: cinemas can no longer rely solely on 'selling tickets and popcorn' to survive; they must transform into 'comprehensive entertainment spaces'."

He clicked on a series of case study videos of overseas cinemas and emphasized: "You see, some cinemas abroad have already added VR experience areas, murder mystery game scenes, and film and television merchandise stores outside the theaters."

We're going to go even further than them! In cinemas in lower-tier cities, we'll designate special areas for 'family movie viewing + hands-on activities' to attract families.

High-end cinemas in first- and second-tier cities are equipped with coffee shops, bookstores, and director salons, attracting white-collar workers and art lovers.

Simply put, the goal is to make audiences feel that "going to the cinema is not just about watching a movie, but also a form of leisure."

Kenneth Fok immediately grasped the key point: "This requires a significant investment in renovations, and it may not be profitable in the short term..."

"The investment will come from Longxiang Capital's special fund, and I have already approved a budget of 20 billion yuan." Chen Fei said with great confidence, "Profitability is not a short-term goal; the key is to seize the opportunity of 'experiential consumption'."

Consumer data from 2023 shows that the proportion of young people willing to pay for 'immersive experiences' increased by 37% compared to the previous year. If we invest now, we can see returns in two years.

Zhou Shouzi then added from a macro perspective: "I think we can also link streaming media and video website businesses. For example, after watching a movie in the theater, viewers can scan a QR code to watch behind-the-scenes documentaries on video websites."

After watching our web series on video websites, viewers can directly purchase tickets for offline meet-and-greets at cinemas. This synergy between online and offline traffic can both increase cinema attendance and drive membership growth.

“That’s right, the core of the entire industry chain is the ‘traffic closed loop’.” Chen Fei continued, “Upstream, content is created; midstream, distribution is carried out through all channels; downstream, cinemas and streaming media are used to capture traffic; and finally, cultural and creative products and derivatives are used to monetize the content.”

For example, with "The Three-Body Problem," besides box office revenue and streaming viewership, we can also collaborate with the dome theater at Shanhe Film City to launch a "Three-Body Universe Special Exhibition," selling customized merchandise and themed movie ticket packages, maximizing the value of an IP!

Ye Ning then raised a new concern: "There is a lot of controversy among audiences about film scheduling. For example, niche art films are often squeezed out of screenings. After we consolidate the screenings, will we be accused of 'monopolizing screenings'?"

Chen Fei offered another solution: "This requires establishing a 'dynamic scheduling system' that lets data speak for itself, rather than relying on personal connections or capital pressure."

Next, we need to develop an algorithm as soon as possible that takes into account film reviews, pre-sale data, audience profiles, and regional preferences to automatically allocate basic screening schedules.

For example, if a movie has a high pre-sale share in Shanghai, its screenings in Shanghai will be automatically increased; if a comedy movie has a high attendance rate in Northeast China, resources will be allocated to the lower-tier markets.

At the same time, 15% of the screenings will be reserved as 'flexible scheduling' to give dark horse films that achieve a turnaround in word-of-mouth a chance.

He gave an example: "For instance, a low-budget realistic film only had 5% of screenings in the early stages, but after its release, its Douban rating rose to 8.5. Our algorithm can increase its screenings to 15% within 24 hours, and its box office revenue eventually tripled."

This is fair, and it also helps us build a good reputation, so why not?

Zhang Peiming's doubts were completely dispelled at this point, and he exclaimed excitedly, "If we had had this system earlier, dark horse films could have been discovered in a short time!"

Kenneth Fok asked instinctively, "How long will it take for the technical development to be implemented?"

Zhou Shouzi responded proactively: "The technical team has already been working on it during the summer vacation, and we will be able to conduct a pilot test next month."

We've partnered with Maoyan on a cloud database that allows us to synchronize real-time data on cinema occupancy rates, refund rates, and audience feedback across the country. The algorithm will continue to iterate and optimize…”

Everyone nodded, feeling increasingly reassured.

In the latter half of the meeting, Chen Fei put forward a longer-term plan:

"In the next three years, Longxiang Cinema Line will complete three tasks: First, complete the digital transformation of all cinemas nationwide, achieving full coverage of 'scan code to select seats, seamless entry, and intelligent theater control'."

Secondly, based on the existing dome theaters at Shanhe Film City and Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, five more "super theaters" will be built, featuring 8K resolution and immersive sound effects, to host the premieres of science fiction and special effects blockbusters.

Third, we will continue to promote the "Young Director Support Program" and allocate 5 million yuan annually to subsidize low-budget films.

These films will be screened first in the art-house cinemas of the Longxiang Cinema Circuit, forming an ecosystem of 'support-screening-promotion'.

At this point, he looked at everyone, his eyes filled with certainty, and said:
"I believe that after 2023, the competition in the film and television industry will not simply be about 'who has blockbuster resources,' but rather 'who can control the efficiency and experience of the entire industry chain.'"

Our integration of cinema chains is not for monopolistic purposes, but to build a healthier ecosystem, allowing good content to reach more people through our channels, freeing cinemas from their dependence on box office revenue, and providing audiences with a better movie-going experience. This is the core value of Longxiang Cinema Chain!

Huo Qigang, Ye Ning, and Zhang Peiming exchanged glances, all seeing approval in each other's eyes.

From brand integration to experience upgrades, from traffic loop to ecosystem support, Chen Fei's plans not only meet current market demands but also accurately predict future industry trends. There are no empty concepts; every step has a concrete implementation path.

"I fully agree with Chairman Chen's plan, and Pan Asia Cinemas will fully cooperate in the integration," Huo Qigang stated first.

Ye Ning and Zhang Peiming nodded in agreement.

"Xiangyu Cinemas is ready to connect to the data system at any time."

"Wanda Film's team will also be prepared to merge into Longxiang Film & Television."

Looking at the group who had reached a consensus, Chen Fei stood up and said, "Then I'll trouble you all to come up with a specific implementation timetable within a week and complete the brand renaming and initial integration within three months."

I hope that next year's Spring Festival film season will present audiences with a completely different Longxiang Cinema!

Everyone responded in unison once again, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future!
"Meeting dismissed."

Chen Fei walked out of the Longxiang Capital Building, sat in his car, and looked out at the city lights gradually coming on. He knew very well that this cinema consolidation was just the beginning.

When Longxiang Film & Television's content creation, Longxiang Cinema's distribution channels, and Longxiang Video's streaming media dissemination truly combine their strengths, a brand-new film and television ecosystem empire can be considered to have truly gained a foothold.

And all of this will begin with the upcoming Spring Festival film season!

(End of this chapter)