During my years at China Entertainment

Chapter 820 A Clash of Titans: A Poetic Collaboration
After a night of hype, "Lost in Hong Kong" grossed 2.38 million yuan on its second day, and a staggering 4.4 million yuan in two days, leaving the entire film industry in awe!

The last time I saw a domestic film with such a ferocious performance was probably "Operation Mekong" during last year's National Day holiday.

However, upon comparison, industry insiders were astonished to find that the box office performance of "Lost in Hong Kong" seemed to be even more exaggerated, exceeding it by a full 30 million.

And this is still on a weekday. How much will its daily box office reach after the holidays?

Is it 3 million? Or even more?!
At this moment, not only are the production companies Ali, Fiber Optics, and Zhenledao very certain, but most of their fellow producers in the industry are also absolutely convinced of one fact.

In other words, the first comedy film to break 20 billion yuan at the box office is about to be born!

The media reports also made their stance very clear, as if "Lost in Hong Kong" had already become the king before the National Day film season even started.

The implication was that he didn't take "Peerless" seriously at all.

As one of the main creators, Liu Shishi was getting her makeup done at the Xishan villa while refreshing the news online, and couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"Brother, can we withstand the pressure?"

Looking in the mirror at her beautiful face, which looked incredibly fresh and radiant after he had watered her all night, Wei Jin gently placed his hands on the girl's shoulders and softly comforted her.

"Shishi, don't worry. The two films are on different tracks, so it's likely to be a battle between two giants."

In fact, in terms of quality alone, "Project Gutenberg" is definitely better, but unfortunately, it is at a disadvantage in terms of subject matter and is not as popular as comedy films.

Moreover, since Wei Jin also accounts for nearly half of the revenue in "Lost in Hong Kong", it is impossible to allocate more screenings to him, so the outcome is still uncertain.

However, this answer alone was enough to put Liu Shishi's mind at ease.

What does it mean when two giants clash? Their box office performances will likely be quite similar, and he might just have another blockbuster film that grosses over 10 billion yuan.

Feeling quite pleased with herself, Liu Shishi continued to fuss over her appearance.

It turns out that female celebrities can save a significant amount of time on makeup by not wearing formal gowns.

In just over an hour, Liu Shishi had completed her makeup and stood gracefully before Wei Jin.

"Brother, does it look good?"

"of course."

Wei Jin praised her without reservation, saying that Liu Shishi had changed from her previous intellectual and elegant appearance to a strong woman's attire.

A fitted white shirt paired with a gray short-sleeved blazer and matching ankle-length slim-fit trousers creates a very capable and professional look.

Her elegant and refined face was adorned with only simple makeup, but paired with bright red lips, it exuded a somewhat aggressive aura.

Her long, black, wavy hair was not styled much and was casually draped over her shoulders, adding to her mature womanly charm.

Taking Liu Shishi's hand, Wei Jin chuckled and joked, "Let's go, my producer Liu, it's time for us to set off."

"Well, let's go."

···
Compared to the grand premiere of "Lost in Hong Kong", the premiere of "Project Gutenberg", co-produced by Golden Harvest and Yinghuang, was in no way inferior.

Starting from around 4 p.m., the red carpet outside the auditorium, stretching for dozens of meters, was constantly illuminated by starlight, making it exceptionally dazzling!
Andy Lau, Huang Xiaoming and his wife, Deng Chao and his wife, Wu Jing and his wife, Li Bingbing, Wang Baoqiang, and Xie Tingfeng
Every single one of them is at least a second-tier actor in the industry.

In addition, renowned directors, producers, and representatives from leading companies in the industry also flocked to the event.

However, when Wei Jin made a dazzling appearance with Liu Shishi, they still became the focus of attention on the red carpet.

The media reporters, piled up like mountains, were as excited as if it were New Year's Day, and they all pressed the shutter.

Fans and moviegoers on both sides of the red carpet also burst forth with unimaginable enthusiasm, continuously shouting and cheering.

It must be admitted that the lion cubs are indeed quite formidable in combat; their shouts of "Together!" were perfectly synchronized and resounded throughout the heavens!
The scene was so grand, it was as if they wished Wei Jin and Liu Shishi would get married on the spot, make an official announcement, and consummate their marriage that very night!

Wei Jin was somewhat relieved that Jing Tian was not in the capital and that Tian Xian's jealousy was not too strong, otherwise there would probably have been another scene today!
Hearing the fans' shouts, Liu Shishi felt a sweet warmth in her heart and smiled broadly. She waved frequently to the fans, moviegoers, and reporters on both sides of the red carpet, and her steps seemed to become lighter.

At the end of the red carpet, after striking several poses for the media, feeling confident of securing tomorrow's headlines, Liu Shishi and Wei Jin finally entered the venue.

Inside the venue, the atmosphere was clearly divided, with the bigwigs from leading companies in the industry chatting together.

Meanwhile, celebrities gathered in twos and threes around the production team or the director, waiting to get some reliable information.

As for the main creative team, including Aaron Kwok, Chow Yun-fat, and even Janice Man, who just took leave from the "Witch 2" set today, they were all greeting the guests under the guidance of director Felix Chong and producer Shi Nansheng.

In short, the socializing session before the premiere was exceptionally lively.

However, the focus shifted instantly once Wei Jin and Liu Shishi entered the venue.

Fiber optic veterans like Lao Wang, Boss Yang, and Ye Ning from Wanda all gravitated towards Wei Jin, seemingly regarding him as their absolute core.

Many celebrities and artists present also came over to say hello from time to time.

The feeling of being the center of attention made Liu Shishi's smile even brighter.

···
After some socializing, the premiere officially began.

At the invitation of host Xie Nan, Zhuang Wenqiang and his creative team filed onto the stage to share their creative process.

"I was very happy to receive the script invitation from director Wei Jin. When I saw director Wei Jin hold up the Best Foreign Language Film trophy at the Oscars, I really wanted to find an opportunity to work with him."

After learning about the script for "Project Gutenberg," my joy turned into honor! In my opinion, this film is definitely a classic that will go down in the history of Hong Kong cinema, and I am so lucky.”

Perhaps because he's made so many flops in recent years, Felix Chong, who finally managed to get in touch with Mr. Wei, has started to fawn over him, using incredibly sycophantic language.

When it was Aaron Kwok's turn to speak, he didn't fare much better, showering the audience with thanks, given his immense popularity over the years.

In terms of the number of films he has collaborated with Golden Harvest, he is definitely the most among Hong Kong actors!

However, the director and the male lead's successive thanks and creative sharing seemed to have turned into a large-scale praise session.

During their speeches, Chow Yun-fat, Liu Shishi, Zhang Songwen, and others expressed their gratitude to varying degrees.

It could be directed at the production crew, the director, the production company, or even the actors in the same group.

About half an hour later, the interview ended, and as the lights dimmed, the movie began to play.

From the audience's perspective, the plot of the movie "Project Gutenberg" is actually not complicated.

A young man named Li Wen was arrested in Southeast Asia in connection with a counterfeit currency case and was extradited back to Hong Kong for questioning by the police. However, due to various concerns, Li Wen consistently refused to cooperate.

At this moment, Li Wen's confidante, the painter Ruan Wen, came to rescue him, breaking down his psychological defenses.

Using this as a breakthrough, after negotiations, Li Wen agreed to confess to the counterfeit money gang in exchange for some leniency.

Then Li Wen began to recount the events, recalling how the "Painter" and his gang, played by Chow Yun-fat, produced counterfeit money.
Generally speaking, many people who enjoy crime films tend to identify with the villains rather than the police and the protagonists.

Some ruthless criminals and gangsters in crime films have great popularity and charisma.

Such as the protagonists in classic Hong Kong films like "Once a Thief" and "A Better Tomorrow"; and Gao Qiqiang and Qi Tongwei, who "overcame fate" in the hit TV series "The Storm".

Of course, the audience's liking for villains involves many factors, including multiple levels such as human nature and society.

But putting that topic aside, one thing is certain—in films and television dramas of this genre, the rise of criminals is definitely one of the climaxes!

The villains in "Project Gutenberg" weren't so bad in the early stages; they mainly relied on their skills, which made it easier for the audience to "identify" with them.

After all, if we don't dare to break the law in real life, can't we at least enjoy watching the excitement in movies?

Especially printing money—who hasn't dreamt of that? Especially since it's US dollars, and it doesn't harm the people of our own country, then there's even less guilt involved.

In addition, the plot is well-paced, logically consistent, and interconnected, and all the actors deliver excellent performances.

So much so that when the counterfeit money gang in the movie actually produced counterfeit money, the audience in the theater inexplicably felt a sense of accomplishment!

However, after the climax, the plot of the movie takes a sharp turn for the worse, with unexpected events occurring frequently.

First came a fierce battle with warlords, followed by a classic internal conflict that caused the counterfeit money gang to fall apart, with most members killed or injured.

The guests and audience members present were deeply moved by what they saw.

Many people are convinced that the following plot will involve finding a way to capture the escaped painter, and that Li Wen will likely be involved, staging a classic master-disciple showdown.

Some viewers who have a thorough understanding of Hong Kong films have even imagined their own endings, such as the painter killing Ruan Wen, Li Wen killing the painter in a fit of rage, or a mutual destruction.

But no one expected that the plot would take a dramatic turn in the last fifteen minutes of the movie!
There was no painter at all, or rather, Li Wen, who had been acting timidly throughout the early stages, was the painter.

The renowned painter Ruan Wen was also an imposter; the two of them fooled the police and all the viewers.

When the shocking reversal came and the truth was revealed, the entire auditorium was filled with screams of "Holy crap!"
"Awesome! No wonder it's Boss Wei's script, absolutely brilliant!"

"I knew it wouldn't be that simple."

"The small details were handled very well; there were actually many hints given earlier."

"."

Listening to the cacophony of discussions at the scene, Lao Wang, sitting in the front row, felt a sudden unease.

He knew very well that it was unlikely that "Lost in Hong Kong" would be able to dominate the National Day box office.

···
As the film's main feature came to a close, the cast and crew were invited back onto the stage amidst deafening applause.

As expected, box office results are always a hot topic at premieres.

Although Mr. Yang, the producer, is getting older, his spirit remains as strong as ever, and he stood on the stage full of vigor.

"As everyone has seen, the quality of the film is excellent. As Director Zhuang said, this is definitely a classic Hong Kong film that will be recorded in the history of Hong Kong cinema."

I'm confident that *Project Gutenberg* will perform just as well as *Cold War 2*, with a guaranteed box office of at least 8 million yuan and a target of 10 billion!

"President Wei, what do you think of Chairman Yang's words?"

Although Mr. Yang made a statement, the media reporters seemed unsatisfied and immediately turned their microphones toward Wei Jin in the audience.

There's nothing we can do about it; he's a screenwriter and a well-known prediction king in the industry.
Wei Jin did not hide anything from this, and gave his answer under the expectant gaze of the entire audience.

"I think Chairman Yang's words are too conservative. I have full confidence in 'Project Gutenberg'. Let's be bolder and start with 10 billion, aiming for 15 billion!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the media reporters and guests present erupted in a clamor.

It's worth noting that, to date, there hasn't been a single authentic Hong Kong film that has grossed over 10 billion at the box office.

Well, films like "Monster Hunt," which are family-friendly and involved in both box office fraud and theft, definitely don't count!

And are they really that confident, not taking the threat of "Lost in Hong Kong" seriously at all?

However, the media immediately got excited, thinking that this would be tomorrow's headline.

Especially the generous red envelopes distributed by the production company after the interviews made the media reporters beam with joy, and their efficiency was truly remarkable.

So much so that shortly after the party began, news of the premiere of "Project Gutenberg" appeared in the entertainment section, generating considerable buzz.

"Produced by Golden Harvest Pictures and Yinghuang Pictures, written by Wei Jin and directed by Felix Chong, starring Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Liu Shishi, Zhang Songwen, Wen Yongshan and others;

The action-thriller crime film "Project Gutenberg" held its premiere today at the CPPCC Auditorium, a star-studded event with a full house of distinguished guests!

"At the premiere of 'Project Gutenberg,' the response was enthusiastic and the reviews were overwhelming. Renowned director Wei Jin boldly declared: 'The box office will conservatively start at 10 billion yuan, and we'll aim for 15 billion yuan!'"

····
In the bedroom of the Xishan villa, Liu Shishi felt somewhat displeased as she watched Wen Yongshan holding up the trophy.

Although she already knew that this Hong Kong actress, with whom she had worked twice, was her husband's kept woman, she still felt somewhat resistant to sharing a bed with her now.

Unfortunately, she couldn't resist the man's strong request. What could a weak woman like her do?

However, what reassured Liu Shishi was that this man still loved her, and the gentle touch on his tongue was the best proof of that.

With this in mind, Liu Shishi didn't care about anything else and immediately started to enjoy herself, thinking, "Whatever."

In contrast, Wen Yongshan's idea is much simpler: seize every moment and make the most of the present.

After all, she was born in 88 and is almost 27 years old now, so her needs are not small.

But since the premiere of "Wolf Warrior", it's been almost half a year since I've eaten meat.

And after tonight, she will return to the set of "The Witch 2" to continue filming the final scenes.

(End of this chapter)