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

Chapter 1435 Human greed is endless!
"The action/adventure/fantasy blockbuster 'Aquaman 2,' produced by Warner Bros., directed by James Wan, and starring Jason Momoa, Hartrick, and Yehudi, is officially released today."

"Films such as 'Crossing the Angry Sea,' 'Crayon Shin-chan,' and 'Goodbye Li Kele' have seen their screenings reduced to rock bottom due to the exhaustion of their box office potential..."

"The action/war blockbuster 'Operation Jiaolong,' produced by Bona Film Group, directed by Lin Chaoxian, and starring Huang Xuan, Yu Shi, Li Chen, Duan Yihong, Wang Junkai, and others, officially started filming today!"

"The cast for 'The Chinese People's Volunteer Army: A Battle for Survival' has been announced: Zhu Yilong, Xin Boqing, Zhang Zifeng, Chen Feiyu, Xiao Yang..."

"This morning, the crime film 'All or Nothing,' exclusively produced by Feiyue Films, will hold its premiere ceremony in the capital. The film will be released in two days. Stay tuned."

……

Chen Fei usually manages to decline other activities by citing his busy schedule filming "The Three-Body Problem".

However, as "All In" is a key crime film produced exclusively by Feiyue Films, he had to personally appear at the premiere to show his support.

This film focuses on telecommunications fraud and has been highly anticipated by the market since its preparation stage.

It is not only another attempt by Feiyue Films in the crime genre, but also one of the key competitive advantages in the mid-year Lunar New Year season. Chen Fei is very optimistic about its potential.

However, the filming schedule of "The Three-Body Problem" cannot be delayed in the slightest.

This sci-fi blockbuster, with an investment of 30 billion yuan, is currently in a critical filming phase, and the filming of the "Three-Body Game" and "Red Coast Base" scenes cannot tolerate any carelessness.

Therefore, in order to balance both sides, Chen Fei made meticulous arrangements a week in advance.

He first delegated some routine shots, such as close-ups of actors and establishing shots, to the experienced Guo Fan, and repeatedly checked the storyboard, actor positioning, and lighting requirements for each scene to ensure that filming could proceed as planned while he was away.

Only after confirming that all the details were correct did he board a flight to the capital alone in the middle of the night the day before the premiere.

When the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport, it was already broad daylight.

On the way to the premiere of "All or Nothing", Chen Fei showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, he opened his phone and quickly browsed the day's film and television news.

On the page, the screening data for previously released films such as "Crossing the Angry Sea," "Crayon Shin-chan," and "Goodbye, Li Kele" are particularly eye-catching.

These films, which once held a certain market share in the early stages of the Lunar New Year film season, now have a screening share that has dropped to below 5%, almost at a "freezing point".

He had anticipated this outcome and was not surprised at all.

In his view, the core logic of the film market has always been "survival of the fittest".

When a film's box office potential is fully realized and audience enthusiasm fades, theaters will naturally shift their screening resources to more competitive new releases.

These are the underlying rules of the film and television industry; they have nothing to do with sentimentality, only with market forces.

No cinema chain would refrain from showing a blockbuster that could boost attendance and generate box office revenue, instead reserving prime-time screenings for films with dismal box office performance.

After all, cinema chains are commercial entities, and making a profit is their core objective.

He quickly scrolled through the news articles without lingering, his attention soon drawn to two other items.

One is that Bona Film Group's "Operation Jiaolong" has officially started filming, focusing on action and naval warfare.

Another piece of news is the announcement of the cast for "The Chinese People's Volunteer Army: The Battle for Survival." As a sequel to the "Chinese People's Volunteer Army" series, this film also carries considerable market expectations.

After a quick glance at the two lists, Chen Fei made a clear judgment.

Producer Fu Ruoqing and director Chen Kaige of "The Chinese People's Volunteers: A Battle for Survival" clearly put a lot of effort into casting.

However, Bona's Yu Dong, and indeed the entire team, failed to learn from past mistakes and repeated the same errors in casting.

Let's look at "Operation Jiaolong" first. Huang Xuan as the lead actor is indeed a reasonable choice.

After all, this person has always been known for his solid acting skills and stable reputation.

Whether it's the grassroots cadre in "The Love Between Mountains and Seas" or the soldier in "The Battle at Lake Changjin," he can handle the role precisely, carrying the label of "quality assurance." It is undoubtedly reliable for him to support the main storyline of the film.

However, the names that followed on the list made Chen Fei frown.

The addition of Li Chen and Wang Junkai makes it difficult to be optimistic about the future.

After all, Li Chen's previous film, "Sky Hunter," not only flopped at the box office, but his performance in the film was also criticized as "stiff and deliberate," failing to showcase the toughness and gravitas that a soldier should have.

Looking at Wang Junkai, his performance in "749 Bureau" was also unsatisfactory.

His immature acting skills were seriously unsuitable for the role, and he was even ridiculed by netizens for lowering the overall quality of the film.

In Chen Fei's view, the selection of these two actors for "Operation Jiaolong" may have taken into account their so-called "popularity" or "topic generation".

However, they overlooked the high demands that war-themed films place on actors' acting skills and presence.

The current casting choices undoubtedly pose a potential threat to the quality of "Operation Jiaolong".

In contrast, the casting for "The Chinese People's Volunteers: A Battle for Survival" was much wiser.

Zhu Yilong, Xin Baiqing, Zhang Zifeng, and Xiao Yang are all recognized as "powerful actors" in the industry.

With "Life's Big Events," Zhu Yilong has long since shed the label of "traffic actor" and proved his versatility with his nuanced performance.

As an actor with a background in theater, Xin Baiqing's ability to deliver lines and control his roles is beyond doubt. His performance in "The World" previously won him countless fans.

Zhang Zifeng has grown from a child star into a powerful actress, demonstrating a mature acting ability beyond her years.

Xiao Yang is a prime example of someone who transitioned from acting to directing. He can handle both comedies and dramas with ease and has a natural affinity for audiences.

These actors may not have the popularity of top stars or a large fan base, but their filmography is very solid, and every role they play can withstand scrutiny.

When audiences see their names, they naturally develop a sense of trust that "the acting in this film is guaranteed," and are thus more willing to go to the cinema to support them.

As for Chen Feiyu on the list, his comeback is not surprising.

Previously, Chen Feiyu's personal image was significantly damaged due to a bed photo incident with a female fan that sparked public controversy.

Objectively speaking, both parties in the incident are single, and it is essentially a matter of private morality, without involving any illegal or criminal activities. This is fundamentally different from celebrities who cross legal lines.

Moreover, he has his father, Chen Kaige, who has been deeply involved in the film and television industry for many years. Chen Kaige has extensive connections and influence in the industry, so he will not allow his son to fade out of the circle.

The decision to cast Chen Feiyu in "The Chinese People's Volunteer Army: A Battle for Survival" serves two purposes: firstly, to provide him with an opportunity for a "soft comeback" and to improve his public image through a serious drama.

On the other hand, Chen Kaige probably wanted to personally guide his son during filming to help him improve his acting skills, which would be killing two birds with one stone.

There are indeed voices online calling for Chen Feiyu's comeback.

Some netizens expressed that they find it difficult to accept celebrities with questionable private morals starring in serious dramas.

However, these protests were mostly scattered and weak, and did not form a large-scale public opinion storm, thus having a limited impact on the film's preparation and subsequent promotion.

However, outside of these normal discussions, some outrageous remarks that confuse right and wrong have emerged.

For example, Chen Fei just came across a post from someone's fan.

The other party openly shouted: "Both of them had relations with women, so why was he sentenced to so many years, while Chen Feiyu was able to make a smooth comeback? This is so unfair!"

Looking at these comments, Chen Fei couldn't help but shake his head, his heart filled with incomprehension and sarcasm.

He simply couldn't understand why these fans would be so stupid.

Can't you even distinguish the essential difference between illegal and criminal acts and issues of private morality?
That guy was involved in multiple serious criminal offenses, including rape and organizing prostitution, which severely violated the bottom line of the law and social morality. It is only right that he be severely punished by law.

In contrast, Chen Feiyu's incident was merely a dispute in his private life and did not violate the law.

To conflate the two, or even to defend such criminal acts, is not only a disregard for the law, but also a lack of respect for the victims.

Such illogical and brainless remarks serve no purpose other than exposing the ignorance of fans.

The car gradually approached Longxiang Cinema.

By this time, the area outside the venue was already covered with promotional posters for "All or Nothing".

On the poster, Zhu Yilong's "programmer" looks confused and struggling, Yang Mi's "victim" has fear on her face but also a hint of stubbornness, and Wang Jinsong's "fraud boss" has a sinister smile, perfectly showcasing the oppressive tension and suspense of a crime film. Chen Fei puts away his phone, straightens his suit, and his eyes become focused again.

Putting aside those irrelevant controversies and industry dynamics for the time being, the most important thing right now is to fire the first shot for the release of "All In".

Whether this film, which embodies countless efforts from the team, can break through the competition during the Lunar New Year season and become another box office dark horse depends heavily on the word-of-mouth generated at its premiere.

As for the competition between "Operation Jiaolong" and "Volunteer Army: Battle for Survival", and the success or failure of casting Yu Dong, Lin Chaoxian, Chen Kaige and others, it will ultimately be up to the market to judge.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the cinema, and the staff who had been waiting there immediately came forward and helped open the car door.

As Chen Fei stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet for the premiere, a flood of flashbulbs came rushing in.

After walking a few steps, a reporter holding a microphone squeezed to the front and asked loudly, "Director Chen, everyone is very concerned about the filming progress of 'The Three-Body Problem.' About how much of the film has been completed so far?"

Chen Fei didn't stop, a calm smile on his face, as he responded to the camera: "It's still a long way off. This is a three-part shoot, so the shooting period is already long. Plus, the post-production special effects require a high level of detail, so it will take at least a year to complete all the filming."

Three films shot in one year is not too long, so no one was surprised.

No sooner had he finished speaking than another reporter immediately followed up, "When is the expected release date?"

Hearing this question, Chen Fei smiled and waved his hand, his tone somewhat mysterious: "This has to be kept secret. Once the filming and post-production are polished to their best state, we will naturally give everyone a definite time."

His simple two-sentence response revealed no key information, yet it whetted the audience's appetite.

The reporters tactfully stopped asking questions about "The Three-Body Problem" and started chatting about it instead.

"Director Chen, didn't Liu Yifei come back with you to attend the premiere?"

"No, she's still filming on set right now. She's the lead actress, and her scenes there can't be done without her for the time being..."

The red carpet wasn't long, and Chen Fei walked steadily, quickly reaching the cinema entrance.

At this moment, Shen Ao, Wang Jinsong, Zhu Yilong, Yang Mi, and others were greeting guests at the entrance.

Upon seeing him approach, the group immediately went forward to greet him.

"Director Chen, you've finally arrived!"

Shen Ao spoke first, his tone tinged with surprise.

Wang Jinsong and Zhu Yilong nodded in greeting, their faces full of respect and honor.

Only Yang Mi, standing at the back of the crowd, felt a strange sense of embarrassment as she watched Chen Fei approach.

Back when she was just starting out in the industry, Chen Fei gave her many opportunities.

But back then, she was ambitious and always felt that relying on acting skills was not as reliable as controlling capital. She was single-mindedly thinking about setting up her own studio, investing in projects, and even becoming a "capital investor".

However, Zeng Jia's actions resulted in him wasting several years of his prime years.

Now, she could only secure a role in "All or Nothing" through her connections with Shen Ao.

The feeling of falling from a great height and then slinking back made her feel somewhat uncomfortable when facing Chen Fei, and she didn't even dare to take the initiative to talk to him.

"Hello."

Chen Fei nodded in response to everyone, and when his gaze swept over Yang Mi, there was nothing unusual about it, nor did he say anything more.

He knew perfectly well that Yang Mi's inclusion in the cast was due to Shen Ao's recommendation, and had nothing to do with him personally.

If she can focus on honing her acting skills and deliver convincing performances, she may have new opportunities to collaborate with others when she encounters suitable roles in the future.

However, Chen Fei believes that this "perhaps" is quite difficult to achieve.

Because Yang Mi's prime acting years have passed, and she's almost 40 years old.

The film and television industry already has strict age restrictions for actresses, and she missed the best period for honing her skills, so the types of roles she can get in the future will become increasingly narrow.

How easy is it to make a name for yourself again based on acting skills?
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Fei entered the cinema first, chatting and socializing with the other guests present.

About half an hour later, Shen Ao, along with Zhu Yilong, Yang Mi, Wang Jinsong and other members of the main creative team, followed the arriving guests into the cinema.

As the lights slowly dimmed, the giant screen lit up with the title of "All or Nothing," officially launching the premiere.

As per procedure, the media first conducted a brief group interview.

A reporter asked Shen Ao what his original intention was in making this film?
He stated frankly, "I want to use real fraud cases to expose the illusion of 'getting rich overnight' and let more people see the trap."

When talking about his experience playing a victim, Zhu Yilong mentioned, "In order to get closer to the character, I specifically talked to the police about the details of the case, and only then did I realize that fraud in real life is actually more cruel than in the script."

Yang Mi, unusually, put aside her usual glamorous image and spoke sincerely: "The victim I play is someone who was dragged into the abyss by the idea of ​​'making easy money.' I hope the audience will be more vigilant after watching the show."

After the interview session ended, the theater went completely dark, and the main feature began.

Although he had seen the final cut during post-production editing, Chen Fei still couldn't help but feel a lot of emotions when the familiar scenes reappeared.

On screen, Zhu Yilong plays Pan Sheng, a programmer with a bright future. However, after losing his job, he is lured away by the lure of "high-paying recruitment" and gradually falls into the trap of a fraud park in northern Myanmar.

Yang Mi plays Liang Anna, who, in order to pay off her debts, naively believes the lies of a "model agent" and ultimately becomes a tool of a fraud ring.

The fraud ringleader Wang Jinsong's statement, "People have two hearts, one greedy and one unwilling to accept defeat," is like a sharp knife, precisely piercing the weakness of human nature.

The victims' reactions in the footage are even more heartbreakingly real.

Some people, hoping to make a quick buck and leave, willingly cooperate with scams until they are completely drained of their value before they finally realize the truth.

Some people know it's a scam, but because they can't bear to lose the money they've already invested, they keep adding more funds, eventually going bankrupt.

Some people, after being controlled by violence, went from initial resistance to numbness, and even turned around and helped deceive their compatriots.

Each segment corresponds to a real tragedy that actually happened in reality.

Looking at the faces on the screen twisted by greed, Chen Fei felt a chill creep into his heart.

It has to be said that human greed is truly boundless!
There are always people who harbor unrealistic fantasies, believing that good fortune will fall into their laps.

But where in the world are there so many "free lunches"?

Those temptations that tout "earning over 10,000 yuan a day" or "getting rich with zero cost" are essentially traps tailor-made for greed.

He recalled the recent news reports about scams he had seen online. Among the victims were recent graduates, elderly people who had worked hard all their lives, and business owners who had failed in their ventures. They were all blinded by the idea of ​​"making money quickly," which gave scammers an opportunity to take advantage of them.

When the film reached the scene where "Pan Sheng led the victims to secretly send out distress signals," murmurs rippled through the theater.

The final scene, in which the police conduct a cross-border arrest and the fraud ring is dismantled, brought a sigh of relief to many viewers.

But Chen Fei knew that while movies could have happy endings, scams in reality never stopped.

As long as human greed exists, people will continue to fall into such traps!

As the end credits rolled and the lights came back on, the theater erupted in enthusiastic applause.

The creators stood up and bowed, and many viewers still had amazement in their eyes, clearly moved by the film's plot.

Chen Fei stood up, looking at the scrolling subtitles on the screen, and a thought suddenly occurred to him:
Perhaps the greatest value of this film is not how high its box office is, but that it can make even one viewer give up the fantasy of "making quick money" and avoid a fraud trap. If that is the case, then all the investment will be worthwhile.

Many media outlets turned to look at Chen Fei.

A reporter asked, "Director Chen, do you think this film will meet box office expectations?"

Chen Fei smiled and glanced at the entire audience: "I don't know if it will be a hit, but at least this movie has told everyone what needs to be said through the plot."

May there be no fraud in the world!

(End of this chapter)