Huayu 05, our science fiction movie universe

Chapter 598 [The Three-Body Problem: The Dark Forest]

At the Galaxy Film Technology Expo, the last exhibition hall that Wang Hao accompanied the senior leader to visit was themed "Innovative Technology Preview".

This exhibition hall showcases high-tech products that have not yet been commercially applied but possess great potential and value, representing a possible future of technology.

For example, the Mirage AI system is an AI image and video generation software independently developed by Galaxy Group. It can generate images based on users' text descriptions and also generate animated videos based on images.

Of course, the immaturity of AI technology at present means that it is only a concept for now, and it will undoubtedly take some time before the project can be truly commercialized.

In addition, there is an AR clothing customization software.

AR, or Augmented Reality, is a new technology that uses optoelectronic display technology, interactive technology, multiple sensor technology, and computer graphics and multimedia technology to integrate a computer-generated virtual environment with the user's surrounding real environment, thereby making the user believe, through sensory effects, that the virtual environment is a component of their surrounding real environment.

The goal of this technology is to overlay the virtual world onto the real world on a screen and allow for interaction. The developer of AR clothing customization software has used this principle to combine AR with clothing production.

"Actors often need to wear all sorts of special costumes during filming."

During the pre-production phase of filming, costumes must be designed and customized based on the plot and the actors' personal temperament and physique.

Traditional film costume customization is not only time-consuming, but may also result in ill-fitting, uncomfortable clothing, or discrepancies between the actual garment and the design.

Our AR costume customization technology, by scanning the actor's body data and combining it with AR virtual design, can quickly generate costume patterns that fit the actor's body shape. Furthermore, it allows for real-time adjustments to the style and material of the costumes in the virtual environment, greatly improving the efficiency and quality of costume customization. It also allows actors to see the costumes in advance, enabling them to better immerse themselves in their performances…”

The big boss looked at all of this and nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed, these new technologies, methods, and equipment have not only improved production efficiency but also expanded the creative space for films."

Chairman Wang, the technology showcased by Xinghe Group in collaboration with numerous other companies has set a very good example for the industry.

Wang Hao responded humbly:

"Thanks to the support of our leaders and the joint efforts of our industry colleagues, we also hope that through this expo, we can further promote the development of film and television production technology in China and take it to a new level."

As time passed, the number of exhibitors and visitors in the exhibition hall continued to increase.

As the event became increasingly lively, it entered a new phase.

The group of leaders were invited to the largest exhibition hall of the entire expo, where a huge stage had been set up. The overall decoration color was a mysterious and elegant starry black, and the words "Galaxy Cinema Universe" were shining in the starry sky formed by LED panels.

"welcome!
We warmly welcome everyone to take time out of your busy schedules to attend the Galaxy Cinema Technology Expo and the launch event for the third phase of our Galaxy Cinema Universe!

After properly arranging for all the leaders to be seated, Wang Hao took the microphone and went up on stage.

In the exhibition hall, many fans who had come from afar cheered loudly as soon as they saw him.

No further words were needed; the atmosphere immediately became electric.

"Thank you! Thank you! But please keep quiet, as our press conference is about to begin."

Wang Hao pressed his hands down to calm the enthusiastic fan group.

Once the venue quieted down and the surrounding lights went out, the spotlight shone on the stage, making Wang Hao the center of attention.

"It's great to see everyone here."

I believe that many of you here are attending the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] press conference for the second time.

I remember the last time was 8 years ago, at the celebration party for "Wolf Warrior", where I also announced the project plan for the second phase of the "Galaxy Cinematic Universe", "War Era".

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the past 8 years, thanks to the joint efforts of all our employees, the Galaxy Cinematic Universe has produced a total of 27 films, 10 TV series, 4 related games, and 5 comic books adapted from the same name.

In addition, a large-scale amusement park project related to the cinematic universe has successfully started construction next door. Just turn left when you exit the building, and you'll see the construction site.

As soon as Wang Hao said this, cheerful laughter erupted in the room, and many fans of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] also showed expressions of pride.

As longtime fans of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe series, they have witnessed how Galaxy Pictures has grown step by step from a film studio with only twenty or thirty people to a leading film and television cultural enterprise in China and a top-tier enterprise internationally in just over 10 years.

It can be said that the booming development of Galaxy Group and Galaxy Cinematic Universe has given them a sense of participation and enjoyment in the process.

The success of this unique science fiction cinematic universe is also due to their contributions.

The Xinghuo Park, a well-known Chinese IP-based amusement park comparable to Universal Studios and Disneyland, owes its existence to their contributions in every aspect.

"The Xinghuo Paradise will be completed by the end of next year, and will officially open to the public in the first half of 2019."

To thank our fans for their support and love for the Galaxy Cinematic Universe, Galaxy Group will be holding a lucky draw based on your ticket purchase history on Taobao Tickets. Anyone who has seen more than 15 films from the Galaxy Cinematic Universe will be entered into the draw. The prize is a ticket to the early access screening of "Spark Park," and we have prepared 1000 tickets.

"Oh!"

Many of the fans who came to the press conference cheered happily.

They didn't expect that Xinghe Group would give them such a big gift right at the start of the press conference.

1000 early access tickets to [Spark Paradise] would cost around 500,000 to 600,000 yuan if sold at the regular ticket price.

As for the odds of winning?
Some people think the chances are still pretty good, since you have to have bought tickets for 15 films in the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] on Taobao Tickets, which is quite a demanding requirement.

After all, the number of films in the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] series is only 39. If you exclude TV movies, overseas films that have not been released in China, and films released before the launch of "Taopiaopiao", there are only about 20 films left.

So unless you're a hardcore fan of the StarCraft universe, there probably won't be many people who can participate in the giveaway.

After the cheering fans quieted down, Wang Hao continued:
"As you can see, we have achieved remarkable results in the past eight years. The films in the second phase of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe have broken many domestic box office records and have also left a strong mark on the global film box office charts, becoming Chinese-language films that have set multiple records." The audience once again burst into enthusiastic applause, and everyone knew which film Wang Hao was referring to.

Besides Inception, which other Chinese film has managed to break into the top five of the world's highest-grossing films of all time?

This is something that even the fourth and fifth generation of directors in China could not accomplish.

"To date, all films in the second phase of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe have grossed a total of RMB 283.71 billion in China, representing a 1178.0% increase compared to the first phase's domestic box office performance."

The global box office revenue for the second phase has now reached $78 billion, representing a 766.67% increase compared to the previous phase.

In comparison, the second phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe grossed approximately $52.69 billion worldwide, only 67.6% of *Age of War*'s total.

Wow!
Some people in the audience couldn't help but start applauding.

"Of course, these are only the box office results for the second phase of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe, and do not include the revenue from the film's overseas DVD rights, as well as the revenue from film merchandise and co-branding licensing."

If we add these revenues to the TV series and streaming channels, the total revenue of the second phase of the [StarCraft Cinematic Universe] is estimated to exceed 240 billion RMB, or 35.5 billion USD!

When this data was released, not only the movie fans at the scene, but even the leaders and industry peers sitting in the front row couldn't help but be shocked.

240 billion RMB! 35.5 billion USD!
The achievements of the second phase of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe represent a leap forward compared to the first phase, leaving its peers with nothing but envy.

You have to admire it. Who would have thought that the Chinese film market could actually nurture such a true dragon?

Yes, 240 billion RMB might not seem like much in the high-tech industry of the internet, and it's only half of Alibaba's profit in fiscal year 2017.

Spread over eight years, that's only 30 billion per year, which is even less than some large domestic enterprises.

However, it should be noted that the profits from the second phase of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe are only a part of the overall profits of the Galaxy Group.

The Walt Disney Company's net profit for fiscal year 2017 was only $89.8 billion, with film and entertainment accounting for less than a quarter of the total profit. The majority came from theme parks and resorts and media networks.

Galaxy Group's amusement park projects are nearing completion, and its past investments include companies like DJI and OPPO, as well as its film studios, real estate developments, ticketing websites, and Douyin (TikTok) platform...

Even with all that taken into account, while they are still not as good as the top domestic internet companies and there is a gap between them and top Hollywood giants like Walt Disney, catching up is not an insurmountable task.

And only eight years have passed!

The importance of the "golden goose" in the Galaxy Cinematic Universe to a film and television cultural enterprise is evident.

As long as this brand remains intact, Galaxy Entertainment Group will only earn more in the third, fourth, and even fifth phases of the cinematic universe, and its corporate development will become increasingly smooth.

"At the same time, the success of the second phase of the Galaxy Cinematic Universe has also served as a bridge between the past and the future."

This phase, titled "The Age of War," comprises over twenty films that not only depict the complex international situation and various conflicts instigated by the ETO organization, but also sound the clarion call for war between Earth civilization and the Trisolaran civilization.

"The conflict between humans and aliens has always been a popular topic in many science fiction works."

In the past, this topic was only covered in Hollywood films and productions.

We can see countless aliens descending to Earth in all sorts of spaceships, creating excellent films such as "Independence Day," "Men in Black," "District 9," and "E.T."

Now, China's film and cultural industry will also begin to venture into this field.

We will show you Chinese science fiction films that are based on Chinese history, culture, and humanistic thought, completely different from Hollywood narratives and concepts, exploring another possibility for science fiction films.

Therefore, let us look forward to exploring the cosmic ecology from the perspective of Chinese civilization. Next, I would like to proudly introduce the third phase of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe]!

Wang Hao leaned slightly to the side, and the unique opening animation of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] began to play on the huge LED screen.

However, unlike the opening animation of the second phase that everyone is already familiar with, the opening animation and even the soundtrack of the third phase of the cinematic universe have been changed in order to make a distinction.

Compared to the more stirring soundtrack of the second phase, which was used to depict the impending war, the opening music of the third phase is more somber and heavy, employing more orchestral elements. It seems to carry a strong sense of destiny, while also highlighting the powerful threat that the Trisolaran civilization poses to Earth, and the insignificance and fragility of Earth's civilization within the vast temporal and spatial scale of the universe.

In the desolate universe, as stars draw closer, they reveal familiar faces—some resolute, some joyful, some serious, and some endearing.

Those were scenes of the main characters from the second phase of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] films. Now, they, along with countless other characters in the films, make up the countless stars in this universe.

Perhaps the universe is vast and boundless.

We are but mayflies in the vastness of the universe, a grain of millet in the boundless ocean. I lament the brevity of my life, and only wish for the endless continuation of civilization.

The size of a star is insignificant in the universe, but the civilizations on a star are extremely rare treasures in the entire universe.

However, after the countless stars twinkled, they all went out, leaving only a quiet and dark void in the universe, where one or two stars could be seen occasionally, but they quickly disappeared.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a kind of text, even darker than the background of the universe, appeared on the big screen.

The Dark Forest of the Three-Body Problem!
This is the subtitle of the third phase of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe].

The Dark Forest.

Just seeing such a name sent an indescribable chill through everyone at the press conference.

Some fans of the StarCraft cinematic universe were even more excited.

As qualified movie fans, they have certainly read Liu Cixin's novel "The Three-Body Problem" and naturally know what the "Dark Forest Theory" is.

Now, the content of the third phase of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe] will undoubtedly involve this. So, in the third phase, how will Wang Hao, as the chief planner of this cinematic universe, present this theory through audiovisual language?
Just thinking about it has already made countless fans of the StarCraft cinematic universe and the Three-Body Problem book extremely excited.

(End of this chapter)