Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 604 My Beloved Ministers, Do You Want to Rebel?

July 6th marked the first day of the theatrical release of "Gravity".

Audiences flooded into the cinema.

Star Entertainment's previous promotion was excellent!
China's first science fiction film with a space theme;
Over 80% of the shots are special effects;
Fan Xiaopang's acting skills explode in this work;

The various gimmicks of the premiere, the support from the Shenzhou VII spacewalk, and the massive publicity campaign by Star Entertainment, all contributed to the audience's high expectations for "Gravity".

A sci-fi film with a budget of $5000 million may not sound like much, but its promotional scale was almost on par with that of Pacific Rim back in the day.

Inside Star Entertainment, Guo Fan felt restless, unsure whether to sit or stand, his mind a jumble of worries.

In just a few hours, the first day's box office results will be released, and whether a team is a hero or a flop will depend on this.

During the day, unable to contain himself, he secretly went to several iconic cinemas in Beijing to see "Gravity." The theaters were packed, and tickets were extremely difficult to obtain.
This gave him a lot of confidence, but he was still unsure until the box office figures came out.

"Don't worry, we went to the technical department to check, didn't we? Gravity's pre-sale rate on Maoyan is 100%, so the box office will definitely be fine~" Ning Hao comforted him from the side.

"Yes, stop pacing around. Look at Sister Bingbing, she's so composed~"

Seeing Guo Fan's anxious and agitated state, Lu Yang couldn't help but laugh.

He understood Guo Fan's feelings all too well. Back when "Kowloon Walled City" premiered, he wasn't much better off than Guo Fan.

Compared to Guo Fan's anxiety and frustration, Fan Xiaopang was indeed very calm.

"How can that be the same? Sister Binbin started out directing Zhang's films, she's used to this kind of thing. This is my first time!"

"Hmm, so it's just a newbie's nervousness, hahaha~"

"You can even relate this to that? I spit on you!"

Everyone was used to joking around, and after a few jokes, everyone burst into laughter, which seemed to ease the tension considerably.

While everyone else was waiting for news, others were also waiting for news.

China Film Group, Wanda Group, Shanghai Film Group, and Golden Harvest are all investors in this film, and they also gave it the highest number of screenings.

Compared to Guo Fan, they were much more at ease.

They are the end users, possessing the most accurate first-hand data on attendance and screenings. The performance of "Gravity" is nothing short of perfect, with audiences showing immense enthusiasm for the film.

In fact, to put it bluntly, it surpasses last month's "White House Down."

In the afternoon, a large number of comments about "Gravity" appeared online.

"Holy crap, there's really only one person in the whole movie!"

"Wow, this is a film by a new director?"

"You're saying such an amazing film only cost $5000 million? How is that possible?"

"Director Yi Mou is absolutely right, the sound effects in this film are truly amazing!"

At this time, Guo Fan's favorite thing to do was to look at the comments online and smile foolishly.

As midnight approached, Guo Fan was dragged to a barbecue stall by Lu Yang and his group, where he found the familiar Wangjing Xiaoyao (a type of barbecue grill).

This is tradition!

Star Entertainment celebrates the opening day box office results of many movies here.

After the news broke, some fans staked out the place and stopped coming.

Today, they have revived this tradition.

The group ate and waited, occasionally encountering moviegoers who came after watching the film.

"The movie is really well made, it's this one~"

The fans' words were simple and sincere, but to Guo Fan, they were the best praise, especially the thumbs-up, which was like a medal of honor hanging on his chest.

Fans of directors are generally not crazy; they'll come over, say a few words, take a photo, and then leave without bothering the director excessively.

Some even offer to pay the bill for you, but they've already told the owner that they have to pay themselves.

As midnight approached, Guo Fan became somewhat distracted.

She couldn't enjoy food or drink, her eyes were like those of a resentful woman, and she would glance at her phone on the table every now and then.

Finally, the screen lit up, and I received a new text message!

Guo Fan immediately picked up his phone and tremblingly opened the text message.

Several heads popped over from the side~
"On July 6, 'Gravity' grossed 54,602,090 yuan on its opening day."

"How many?"

"How much? Tell me quickly!"

Those who are far away cannot see and can only anxiously inquire.

"5400 million~"

"How many?"

Guo Fan's voice was a little soft the first time.

"5400 million~"

"Hoho~~"

The second time, Guo Fan practically shouted it out, and his friends around him cheered along, with several nearby tables also clapping.

"The bill's on me! The whole thing's on me!"

Guo Fan seemed like a completely different person, so excited he almost jumped up.

This joy immediately infected others, and with someone paying the bill, the celebration at one table quickly became a celebration for the whole place.

Almost simultaneously, Han Sanping also received a call from the film projection company.

"Chairman Han, the first day's box office results are in..."

"How many?"

"5460."

Han Sanping breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, you've worked hard."

After hanging up the phone, Han Sanping smiled and couldn't help but pump his fist. The first domestically produced space-themed film was a success!
What pleased him even more was the emergence of another young director, who represents the hope of Chinese cinema.

The next morning, Zhang Chen woke up to a barrage of congratulatory text messages on his phone.

The opening day box office was 5460 million, not bad! It seems to be higher than both "Pacific Rim" and "White House Down," second only to "2012."
Zhang Chen turned on his computer and began browsing news online.

The opening day box office results of "Gravity" have already become headlines on various portal websites.

Upon arriving at the company, Dong Jianqiang knocked on his office door as soon as he entered.

"Hey, you're here so early? Didn't you go out to celebrate with them last night?"

"No, I can't stay up all night right now."

"I didn't go either. I heard those guys didn't finish until 5 a.m. this morning, they're probably all catching up on sleep now~"

Zhang Chen didn't care; he had gone through the same thing back then.

On the contrary, I felt a little envious, envious of their happiness.

As he became more and more successful, the box office could no longer bring him the same joy as before.

"By the way, CASIC just called and said that if we want to make similar space-themed movies in the future, we can contact them."

Zhang Chen nodded. Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation must have seen the film's opening day box office and decided to add to its success.

If the movie fails, I guess I won't get this phone call.

However, Zhang Chen and his company are unlikely to touch space-themed movies anytime soon; the next one they might do is probably "The Martian".

……

I turned on my computer and browsed the internet; the online reviews were still overwhelmingly positive.

This made Zhang Chen feel as if he were back in the time of *Pacific Rim*. During this time, he kept receiving congratulatory calls: Yang Xiaomi, Li Lianhua, Zhang Yimou, Director Chen…

Zhang Yimou also joined Weibo on the recommendation of Zhang Chaoyang.

The first Weibo post I made was about "Gravity".

After the premiere, I watched "Gravity" again and was still captivated by it.

Many people are amazed by the visual effects, but I think the sound effects are even more stunning.

The sound effects in the entire movie are simply epic.

The fact that sound cannot travel in a vacuum is a basic physics fact that many people know, but almost no movies strictly adhere to this principle.

Sound is so important in a film that many people don't even know how to present it without it.

In previous science fiction films, space explosions were always accompanied by deafening sound effects, but Gravity managed to respect reality, which is truly commendable.
When I first noticed this treatment in the film, I was pleasantly surprised and began to expect a scene where the space station behind the protagonist explodes, but because there's no sound, the protagonist overlooks it, almost causing a dangerous situation. And sure enough, it happened, which delighted me greatly…

It seems that Zhang Yimou is genuinely satisfied with the sound effects in this film, otherwise he wouldn't have mentioned it so many times.

It was mentioned once at the premiere and again on Weibo.

I even went so far as to watch the movie again.

This publicity effect is fantastic; there aren't many movies that can get such a big director to endorse them.

Just after hanging up with Zhang Yimou, Director Chen called again.

Congratulations on the huge success of Gravity!

"Thank you. By the way, Professor Chen, filming for 'The Equalizer' will start soon. Is everything alright on your end?"

"No problem, but Director Zhang, I have a favor to ask."

"Teacher Chen, please tell me~"

"Following you has broadened my horizons. I've tried action movies, which I'd never done before. When will it be my turn to try a sci-fi movie?"

"Oh, Professor Chen is interested in science fiction films?"

"Hmm~"

"Sure, I'll let you know when a suitable role becomes available."

"Thanks!"

"I never expected you to be interested in science fiction films. I thought an actor like you was only interested in feature films."

Zhang Chen was genuinely surprised; subconsciously, he had always felt that these old-school actors only liked feature films.

"We old folks have to keep up with the times too!"

……

Chen Family
Director Chen hung up the phone, and Wang Jinghua, sitting opposite him, laughed and said, "See, I wasn't wrong. Zhang Chen has a very good impression of you talented actors. If you want to act in a sci-fi film, it would be much better than if I approached him..."

Director Chen nodded; he had also suddenly felt a strong urge to watch "Gravity" that day.

Previously, there were no such topics in China, so he naturally had no ideas.

But after Zhang Chen created new-style action films, monster films, disaster films, and science fiction films, his heart became wild, and he wanted to try everything.

Moreover, deep down he always had this idea—mainland actors shouldn't be inferior to Hong Kong actors.

If Leung Ka-fai can make action movies, then so can he;

If Jackie Chan, an action movie director, is making disaster movies, then director Chan can also make science fiction movies.
If everyone is about the same age and has similar abilities, then there shouldn't be any differences between them.

Mainland actors are no less capable than others.

So he took the first step and originally wanted Wang Jinghua to pass on a message for him, but Wang Jinghua said that it would be more effective for him to make the call himself.

He believed him, made the phone call, and Zhang Chen readily agreed.

Why am I suddenly starting to look forward to it?
……

Buzzing, buzzing~
Guo Fan, who was catching up on sleep in bed, was once again awakened by the vibration of the phone.

It's truly a bittersweet experience.
He knew it was a congratulatory call; he'd received several like that already, keeping him up at night.

But I couldn't bear to hang up, and I couldn't bear to turn off the phone.

"Hey?"

"Oh, thank you, I didn't expect the results to be so good... Thank you for your concern... I'd love to cooperate with you sometime..."

Most of the callers were actors, with actresses making up the majority.

Everyone is eager to improve.

Judging from the first day's box office results, even a blind person could see that Guo Fan is definitely a rising star.

These aren't just potential growth stocks anymore; they're blue-chip stocks.
People in the entertainment industry are masters of buying high and selling low, which is why a bunch of people are trying to get close to them.

In one morning, Guo Fan learned what it meant to 'rise to the top in one step'.

I used to be a nobody, I didn't even get many phone calls from celebrities.

Now celebrities are sending him their support and congratulating him one after another.

……

At the box office, "Gravity" continues its strong performance.

The next day, 5510 million;
On the third day, 5490 million;
On the fourth day, box office revenue began to decline, reaching 4220 million.
This achievement even surpasses that of "Pacific Rim" and is second only to "2012".

Pacific Rim grossed over 100 million in two days and over 200 million in five days.

"2012" grossed over 100 million in two days and over 200 million in three days.

"Gravity" falls somewhere in between them, grossing 1.65 million yuan in its opening weekend, breaking 100 million yuan in two days, and 200 million yuan in four days.

This achievement is already incredible; it surpasses all other directors in China except Zhang Chen, making him a definite second.

The key point is that this is his debut work, and his first work has already achieved second place in the domestic market. From this perspective, he is even more impressive than Zhang Chen.

Suddenly, there was a surge in praise for Guo Fan, with the internet filled with compliments about him.

Genius director~
Shiny gold~
The roc rises with the wind in a single day~
I trekked through the snow to the mountain peak.
Successors to domestic science fiction films~
When Zhang Chen saw this, he almost spat out the water he was about to drink.

As the successor to the sci-fi genre of ghost movies, I'm not planning on retiring yet, okay?
Where did the successor come from?
Zhang Chen knew how to share joy with the people, so he immediately posted a Weibo message with a melancholy tone:
Successor to the science fiction film industry?
Whose job will he take over?

I'm not planning to retire yet, could I work a few more years?
Seeing Zhang Chen's unusual eccentricity, people online almost burst out laughing.

Haha~, I haven't planned to retire yet, Director Zhang's words are really full of resentment~
Haha, the boss is being forced to retire by his employees. I bet Director Zhang is feeling incredibly frustrated right now!
But then, Guo Fan replied: "That's not what I meant, it's all just netizens making things up~"
Seeing this, others also rushed over to join in the fun.

Ning Hao: Your Majesty, I humbly request that you abdicate and yield the throne to a more worthy successor.
Lu Yang: I second that proposal.
Fan Xiaopang: I second that too!
Tung Chien-keung: I second that.
Zhang Chen: You bunch of bastards, are you trying to rebel? Drag them all away and behead them!
Netizens had never seen such a fun and down-to-earth celebrity before, and they all joined in.

Netizen A: I hereby impeach Guo Fan for plotting rebellion.
Netizen B: I impeach Guo Fan, Ning Hao, Lu Yang, and others for forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices.
Netizen C: I impeach Fan Xiaopang for interfering in politics with his harem~
What the hell is this about harem interference in politics?!
Weibo became incredibly lively, with both ordinary people and celebrities joining in.

Chen Daoming: With the situation unclear, Regent Chen Daoming only dares to observe from afar.
Huang Xiaoming: The Commandant of the Palace Guard, Huang Xiaoming, is willing to give his life for His Majesty and slay treacherous officials.
Yang Xiaomi and Da Tiantian also wanted to join in, but since they were women, they felt uncomfortable speaking up.

In what capacity are you speaking, as a member of the harem?

Not suitable.

Fan Xiaopang was accused of interfering in politics because of his previous confession.

What are they?
"How about we form a team?"

"What combination? Shuke and Beta? Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix? Benbo Ba, Babo Ben?"

It's all messed up!
Zhang Chen was looking at the chaos on Weibo when he made a casual joke, but somehow it turned into a hot topic on Weibo.

Zhang Chaoyang even called specifically to ask him to continue for a while longer.

He seems to have found a new way to use Weibo!

No way, are you using me as a guinea pig?
……

It's the last day! Please vote with your monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)