Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 618 South Korea poaching talent
In the domestic film and television industry, "Train to Busan" has been a hot topic since its preparation stage - it is the first zombie film in China, and the word "first" alone is enough to make movie fans look forward to it.

In terms of film themes, Star Entertainment has always been ahead of other domestic film companies, and this time its publicity campaign is both extensive and intensive:
The posters on subway light boxes depicting the protagonists battling zombies on a train are incredibly impactful.

On online platforms, the 30-second trailer released by the film company features tense scenes of zombie attacks accompanied by urgent background music, making viewers' palms sweat.
Even the LED screens in major shopping malls are playing interview clips of the main creators on a loop. Of course, the domestic promotion mainly focuses on Hu Jun and Ning Hao.

"Our movie not only features thrilling zombie scenes, but also explores family bonds and humanity, which will definitely move the audience!"

Ning Hao's words in the interview have raised many people's expectations.

"I'm really a dramatic actor~"

Hu Jun also joked with a smile during the interview.

Star Entertainment has really put a lot of effort into promoting the movie.

But no one expected that what truly propelled "Train to Busan" to new heights of popularity was Tom Cruise's unexpected appearance.

Baidu search statistics show that the popularity of "Train to Busan" has surged due to Tom Cruise.
Whether it was Tom Cruise's attendance at the premiere or the various speculations in the media about his visit to China, it all brought considerable buzz to "Train to Busan".

Tom Cruise's positive review of the film after watching it has further piqued people's interest.

People were like hungry lambs, eagerly awaiting the film's release.

Against this backdrop, Train to Busan was released.

Entertainment news outlets were filled with related reports, and even people who don't usually follow zombie movies couldn't help but wonder: "Just how good is a movie that Tom Cruise personally attended?"

I think this is a very successful movie. It's not just a zombie disaster film, but also a masterpiece about humanity.

These are Tom Cruise's exact words.

Viewers who were already curious about "Train to Busan" are now like hungry lambs, eager to rush into the cinema.

On social media, netizens are urging: "Stop with the promotion! Just release it already!"

"I can't wait, I'm just waiting for the release day!"

Star Entertainment launched a sampling survey, which showed that most viewers were full of expectations for the movie, and major cinemas have also secretly increased the number of screenings.

Finally, amidst much anticipation, Train to Busan was officially released.

On the first day of release, long queues formed outside major cinemas early in the morning.

Some audience members lined up before dawn to secure good seats;

Some couples held hands, holding popcorn they had bought in advance, and excitedly discussed the plot while in line;

Many parents brought their children along, and although they were worried that the zombie scene would scare the children, they couldn't resist their children's requests.

But many people doubt whether it's really for the sake of the children.

I'm afraid it's not that you two want to see it, but you're using the child as an excuse.

"It's finally released! I was so excited last night I couldn't sleep!"

Xiao Lin, a college student at the front of the line, rubbed his hands together and said to his friend.

My friend laughed and replied, "Me too! Just watching the trailer makes me feel so excited, I can't wait to go in and see it!"

After a long wait, the audience finally got to enter, and as soon as they sat down, the theater lights went out.

As the movie began, the previously noisy theater instantly fell silent.

Director Ning Hao has begun to officially take control of the audience's emotions.

When the audience saw the protagonists being attacked by zombies on the train, and the scene of chaos in the carriage, they held their breath, and some even clenched their fists unconsciously.

When the audience saw the selfish people in the carriage blocking the doors and preventing the main characters from entering, they were filled with rage.

In the latter half of the movie, when Hu Jun decided to sacrifice himself to protect everyone and stand guard at the door alone, many viewers had tears in their eyes.

The moment when Han Geng's character decided to accompany his girlfriend, played by Lin Yoona, to her death after she was infected, moved many people to tears.

The audience felt as if they were part of the movie, experiencing the tension, joy, pain, and happiness along with the characters.
After the movie ended, the lights came on, and applause spontaneously erupted in the theater.

This wasn't a premiere, and there were no main cast members present, but it was a genuine outpouring of emotions.

As the audience walked out, they discussed excitedly: "It was amazing! Even more exciting than I imagined! The zombie effects were so realistic, my heart was in my throat!"

"I love the family relationships the most. They feel so natural and not at all forced. I cried so much during the last part."

"Ning Hao really didn't disappoint me. He used to make me laugh, and now he's making me cry~"

"No wonder Tom Cruise praised this movie; it truly deserves it! The ticket was totally worth it, and I'm definitely going to see it again!"

On its opening day, Train to Busan received overwhelmingly positive reviews online.
"Finally, a high-quality zombie movie from China! The plot, special effects, and emotional impact are all excellent. Highly recommended!"

“Five-star review!”

"After watching 'Train to Busan,' I'm a complete fan. Who says Ning Hao is a comedy director? I hereby declare that I will definitely watch all of Ning Hao's new films from now on!"

Looking at the endless stream of people at the movie theater entrance and the satisfied smiles on the faces of the audience, the staff of Star Entertainment also breathed a sigh of relief—this carefully prepared "battle for popularity" had finally paid off.

While "Train to Busan" is enjoying immense popularity, Chung Li-fang is not complacent but instead decides to add fuel to the fire.

After Star Entertainment and Paramount finalized their cooperation agreement for Zhang Chen to join "Mission: Impossible 4", they did not rush to announce it.

Zhong Lifang had been waiting for this moment, and she believed that it would be more effective for Paramount to release the news.

As a veteran media professional, she is well aware of the domestic media environment, and this "outside-in" approach to news release often stirs up a bigger wave.

Sarah had no objection; it was a win-win situation for both sides, and she was happy to cooperate.

At a press conference held at Paramount Pictures headquarters in Los Angeles, spotlights shone directly on the spokesperson.

Holding the microphone, the spokesperson announced with a beaming smile: "Today we have some big news to share—Zhang Chen, the director of 'Pacific Rim' and '2012,' will officially join 'Mission: Impossible 4,' working alongside Tom Cruise to present you with a different kind of 'Mission: Impossible'!"

The news caused an instant uproar when it reached China.

The news dominated headlines across major entertainment platforms, and netizens' comment sections exploded: "We knew it! Zhang Chen really did team up with Tom Cruise!"

Is "Taken" going to have a crossover with "Mission: Impossible"?

Media reporters rushed to the scene, calling Star Entertainment to confirm the veracity of the news.

Star Entertainment did not hold a press conference, but CEO Zhong Lifang confirmed the matter on the official Weibo account:

"Everyone, there's no need to guess anymore. I can officially confirm that director Zhang Chen has indeed joined 'Mission: Impossible 4.' The relevant details of the collaboration are currently being finalized, and we will share any new information with you as soon as possible."

Wow, they actually collaborated!
People felt it was both unexpected and yet reasonable.

Immediately, someone tagged Zhang Chen's account, hoping he would say something, but there was no response for a long time.

Amidst media speculation, Zhong Lifang reiterated, "Director Zhang is currently not in China, so he probably cannot respond in the short term."

Meanwhile, Zhang Chen was sitting in Tom Cruise's private jet, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

Tom Cruise pointed to the interior of the plane and enthusiastically introduced it to Zhang Chen: "I bought this Gulfstream 4 after I got my pilot's license in 94. It cost 2100 million pounds! Over the years, I've relied on it to get around the world for filming."

Sasha chuckled beside her, "This time, I hitched a ride on Tom's plane again!" Although Sasha was a high-ranking executive at Paramount, she didn't own a private jet.

Large companies like Paramount have long-standing agreements with major airlines to purchase a certain number of business class seats.

After touring Tom Cruise's Gulfstream 4, Zhang Chen smiled and said, "I also ordered a Gulfstream. Jackie Chan helped me jump the queue, and it will be delivered in a few months."

Tom Cruise said enviously, "Being able to jump the queue is fantastic! Mine took a full 13 months from ordering to delivery!"

Zhang Chen shrugged: "Looks like I'm in luck~"

Tom Cruise waved his hand and changed the subject: "Let's not talk about airplanes anymore. I'd like to talk to you about the advice you gave me last time."

Last time you said I should follow Jackie Chan's example, filming as many dangerous stunts as possible and doing them myself. To be honest, I'm very tempted by that suggestion!

Zhang Chen nodded: "I came up with this path based on your personality. Before we knew each other, I heard about your actual rock climbing scenes in Mission: Impossible 2, and I thought to myself, 'This guy is really dedicated!'"
At the time, I was thinking, if you can maintain this style, you'll definitely have a bright future..."

At this point, Zhang Chen felt something was amiss.

The other person was already a Hollywood A-list star on par with Jackie Chan, but Tom Cruise didn't mind: "It's alright, these things aren't important. In fact, I think your idea is absolutely right, it really hits the nail on the head!"

Then Tom Cruise seemed to have made a decision: "Zhang, my friend, you'll receive my cake for Christmas~"

When Tom Cruise mentioned cake, Zhang Chen suddenly remembered a news article he had seen in his previous life. The article said that Tom Cruise loved to form small cliques and had his own list of friends that he approved of.

People on this list receive a $126 chocolate coconut cake from Tom Cruise every Christmas. Some receive it for decades, while others stop receiving it one year, indicating that Tom Cruise has removed them from the list.

It seems Tom Cruise now considers him a friend too. However, Zhang Chen thinks that if he receives a cake after the movie is finished, then he'll truly be considered a friend.

After all, Zhang Chen is a man of his own mind, and Tom Cruise is a man of his word. Even a fool would have a conflict between them on set.

Whether Tom Cruise will still consider him a friend by then is hard to say.

……

Seoul, Incheon Airport.

As soon as Dong Jianqiang left the airport, he got into the car sent by CJ Entertainment to pick him up.

His sole purpose for this trip was to recruit top-tier production managers for the upcoming "Running Man" program.

"Director Zheng, I'm sorry to have caused you trouble this time."

Dong Jianqiang shakes hands with Zheng Changsheng of CJ Entertainment.

Zheng Changsheng smiled and said, "President Dong, please don't be so polite. We are close partners, and it's only natural for partners to help each other."

He had heard that Star Entertainment had even invited Tom Cruise to the Chinese premiere of "Train to Busan," a truly impressive gesture.

Therefore, when Dong Jianqiang came this time, Zheng Changsheng personally received him and arranged for several PDs to meet him in advance.

“In the Korean variety show industry, these PDs have top-notch reputations and abilities, especially in outdoor competitive programs, which perfectly match the positioning of your ‘Running Man’.”

As he spoke, Jung Jang-seong handed over a folder with information on three PDs: Kim Tae-hyung, who was in charge of "Family Outing," Park Min-cheol, who created the classic special of "2 Days & 1 Night," and Choi Ji-yeon, who was good at finding highlights in the interactions between guests.

"Alright, I'll need Director Zheng to arrange a meeting with these people for me right away."

Dong Jianqiang was very satisfied after reviewing the three men's information and then made his request.

Zheng Changsheng replied with a smile, "Of course, no problem. Everything has been arranged in advance."

The negotiations began the following afternoon in the conference room of CJ Entertainment.

The first person to arrive was Kim Taehyung. As soon as he sat down, he got straight to the point: "Mr. Dong, I've heard that China is going to make outdoor reality shows, but these kinds of programs have very high requirements for pacing and on-site management. What makes you think we can work together well?"

As a well-known producer in South Korea, Kim Taehyung has his own pride.

Dong Jianqiang did not shy away from the issue, but instead presented a pre-prepared plan: "PD Kim, you see, our planned production budget is 1.5 times that of similar programs in South Korea, and we will be equipped with the most advanced aerial photography equipment and a multi-camera shooting team."

More importantly, the benefits I'm offering you include an annual salary of 8000 million Korean won after tax, plus bonuses for achieving certain viewership ratings for your program, round-trip airfare from Seoul to Beijing, and accommodation in a high-end apartment in Beijing.

Kim Taehyung paused, his eyes filled with surprise.

It's worth noting that his annual salary at his current television station is only 5000 million won, and he is often restricted in his creative freedom.

"President Dong, are you serious about the compensation you mentioned?"

Dong Jianqiang's position at Star Entertainment is president, which corresponds to the title of CEO in South Korea.

Dong Jianqiang nodded: "Of course! I know that you, PD Jin, have many good ideas that you haven't had the chance to realize. Running Man will give you absolute creative space and let you do whatever you want in making the show."

Next up was Park Min-cheol, who had just finished filming "2 Days & 1 Night" in the countryside and still looked tired.

“President Dong, my current show is still airing and it’s very popular. If I switch companies, the penalty for breaking the contract will be a lot of money,” Park Min-cheol said, frowning.

Dong Jianqiang was prepared: "PD Park, Xingchen Entertainment will cover the full amount of the breach of contract penalty. Moreover, after you arrive in China, we will arrange a dedicated team to help you adapt to the environment, including language translation and a life assistant."

In addition, haven't you always wanted to try a model of 'celebrity-ordinary person interaction'? Running Man will give you that opportunity. We plan to invite two ordinary people as guests each episode to complete tasks with the celebrities.

These words struck a chord with Park Min-cheol, whose eyes lit up: "You really want me to do the interaction segment with ordinary people?"

“Of course,” Dong Jianqiang said with a smile, “I don’t want you to copy the Korean model, but to combine your strengths with the preferences of Chinese audiences to create a unique program.”

Choi Ji-yeon, who arrived last, was the only woman among the three producers. She was more concerned about the team atmosphere: "President Dong, I've heard that the management style of Chinese companies is quite different from that of Korean companies. If there are disagreements in the creative process, how should we resolve them?"

Dong Jianqiang said earnestly, "PD Cui, I can assure you that you have absolute say in creative matters."

I will not interfere with the specific program planning; I will only provide you with full support in terms of resources.

Furthermore, we will establish a dedicated variety show R&D center. You can bring your core team here, and the salaries and benefits will be based on top-tier Korean standards.

Choi Ji-yeon felt relieved. She had long considered leaving her previous company because of the frequent interference with her creative process.

Now, hearing Dong Jianqiang's promise, coupled with the treatment that far exceeded her expectations, she was completely swayed.

Three days later, when Dong Jianqiang met with the three producers again, they all brought the same answer: "President Dong, we have decided to go to China with you to develop our careers!"

Kim Taehyung said with a smile, "I have already submitted my resignation to the TV station. Although they tried to persuade me to stay for a long time, I would rather realize my creative ideas on 'Running Man'."

Park Min-cheol also said, "I have discussed it with my family, and they support my development in China. Moreover, the accommodation and airfare benefits you provide have relieved my worries."

Choi Ji-yeon added, "I have contacted the previous team members, and they are willing to come together. We are all looking forward to making a show that Chinese audiences will like."

Dong Jianqiang looked at the three PDs in front of him, his heart filled with anticipation.

He knew that with the addition of these three top talents, "Running Man" was already halfway to success.

On the day he left Seoul, Jung Jang-seong came to see him off, and said with a smile, "President Dong, you're offering too much! You're going to poach all the PDs in Korea!"

Dong Jianqiang laughed heartily: "Director Zheng, this is a win-win situation! Once the show becomes popular, we'll have even more opportunities to collaborate!"

As the plane slowly took off, Dong Jianqiang watched Seoul gradually shrink outside the window and sighed inwardly, "I've succeeded in my mission. I've successfully recruited the man. Now it's up to them to see how well they can make 'Running Man' a success."

……

Seeing a brother's short and weak comment made me realize I've been too lazy lately. Starting tomorrow, I'll try my best to get back to 6000 words per update, to live up to everyone's expectations of following me and sending monthly votes~
Asking for a monthly ticket~
Also, the actress playing the female lead probably needs to be changed; it can't be Fan Bingbing.
(End of this chapter)