Generation Z Artists

Chapter 265 The Genius of Hype
Brother Fang decided to let the dust settle for a while longer, because it wouldn't be until around 2 a.m. that the box office figures for the day and the actual screening status in each region would be finalized.

Now, he has decided to finish the show with Leonardo DiCaprio.

At 3:30 p.m., the Commander led his Wizards teammates to the Staples Center.

Before even entering the stadium, everyone could feel the changes brought about by the release of "Hero"—there were many more people outside the stadium who were not fans at all.

Los Angeles is an extremely unfriendly place for player Fang Xinghe.

Ever since he ended the Lakers' three-peat, the already dwindling number of Los Angeles fans have become even more reluctant to attend games in person, because a real fight could break out.

Most girls don't care, but they're not that passionate about basketball either, which creates a strange phenomenon—

Whenever the Wizards have an away game, the first three rows of Staples Center are filled with beautiful women, almost all of whom are fans of Fang Xinghe. Then, starting from the fourth row, they are all irritable California trolls, hurling insults at Fang Xinghe an average of 20 times per minute.

Today, returning to Staples Center, the situation is completely different.

Outside the gate, in the parking lot, and on the street, there were movie fans everywhere holding up posters of "Hero".

They might not watch the game, since it was obvious they hadn't bought tickets, but they'd rather freeze in the cold just to catch a glimpse of Fang Xinghe's bus.

Yes, just a quick glance at the bus.

Fang Xinghe strictly followed the team rules and didn't open the window, so the group of people shouted outside—

"Prince, you're the best!"

"Your kung fu is superb! I'm so proud of you!"

"The movie will be a huge success, Prince!"

Look, these are the new fans who have transformed into a group of star-studded individuals. They don't call Fang Xinghe by his English abbreviation SR, nor by his nickname AS, but instead call him Prince.

Prince Yu has firmly established himself in the hearts of the first batch of movie fans.

"Hey, Commander, you did it!"

To this day, only the meticulous Hamilton still calls him Commander.

Danzi had already started calling him "bro," but he'd become increasingly pretentious.

"Bro, your movie has great potential; it might even catch up with 'Kung Fu Dunk'."

"Wow!" Robinson exclaimed, "That means it could gross over $2 million worldwide?!"

"Pretty much." Danzi nodded deeply. "My family went to see the morning showing and called me right after they came out. They think it's the coolest kung fu movie ever, and I think it will do very well at the box office."

Tyronn Lue leaned closer, putting on an exaggerated performance.

“Many of my Black friends in the community went to see the movie, and all they could say was: ‘Wow! Cool!’ Just those two words, repeating them over and over. I’m so fed up with them…”

Campbell suddenly asked, "So what was your reaction after you finished reading it?"

Tyronn Lue was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened and he covered his head with his hands: "Wow! So cool!"

"Hahahaha!"

A burst of cheerful laughter filled the carriage.

The Wizards had no pressure about their record or winning or losing today; all the conversation was about "Heroes," and they were having a great time talking about it.

Once inside, the pre-match preparations were done haphazardly and then forgotten.

Doug clapped his hands and said clearly, "Guys, the stage is still SR's today. Everyone do what you're supposed to do and do your part for our heroes!"

Everyone agreed with smiles.

It's not that Doug's puns and flattery weren't brilliant, but rather that everyone had become so accustomed to them.

As the Wizards' coach who's best at flattering his teammates and getting by without contributing, he's obsequious when explaining tactics, but that doesn't stop him from being incredibly eloquent when it comes to sucking up to his teammates.

Today's events are nothing special, everyone please sit down.

After laughing and joking around until just before going on stage, Leonardo DiCaprio led a group of people into the locker room.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Danzi instinctively got up and stepped forward.

Leading the pack is Hollywood director Steven Spielberg.

Young people of the same generation as Dafang may not be very familiar with this master. Simply put, E.T. in 82 grossed $8 million, Jurassic Park in 93 grossed $9 million, Schindler's List in 94 swept the Oscars, and DreamWorks almost became one of the seven major Hollywood studios...

Whether we're talking about talent or fame, among directors worldwide, Cameron is number one, Berg is number two, Fang is currently ranked outside the top 1, and Kara Mikkelsen is number one.

But Berg was unusually amiable.

He greeted Jordan with a smile: "Wow! Our basketball god, it's so gratifying to see you still active on the court!"

She then took the initiative to hug and kiss Fang Xinghe on the cheek.

"Fang, we finally meet! You know what? The moment I saw you on TV, I made up my mind to work with you on a movie... How about the next one?"

"We await your call at any time."

Fang Xinghe was very polite and gave the old man plenty of face; hopefully, the old man wouldn't take it seriously...

Tom Hanks then came over to shake hands and hug him: "Director Fang, I watched your Hero, the action was absolutely fantastic! It was breathtaking!"

Tom Hanks is a rare good guy in Hollywood. He is steady, dedicated, has no bad habits, and his public and private images are highly consistent, earning him widespread respect.

Fang Xinghe respected this kind of person as much as he did, and solemnly replied, "Your dedication is admirable, and I want to learn from you in this regard."

After exchanging compliments, she gave Leonardo DiCaprio a relaxed hug.

"Hey bro, we're having a party tonight..."

"The most important thing you should do is take care of your health."

Fang Xinghe replied disdainfully, "Your belly is pressing against me; it's as soft as a lump of butter."

"SHIT!" Leonardo DiCaprio laughed and scolded, "You're being incredibly rude to your senior!"

The United States does not have a senior-junior system; his so-called senior refers to someone on the same track.

It was precisely because he had experienced everything Fang Xinghe was going through that Xiao Li felt a natural affinity for him.

"Are you ready to become the dream lover of countless girls?"

Lee, the irreverent Leonardo, asked with a grin, "Congratulations, you're about to experience all my troubles!"

"I'm different from you."

Fang Xinghe gave him a dismissive glance.

"Not only can I produce my own resources, but I'm also a fucking martial saint."

In an instant, Leonardo DiCaprio's smile vanished.

"Pfft!"

The others in the locker room laughed so hard they were doubled over.

After the small talk, the old man asked Fang Xinghe to go outside and began to discuss cooperation matters with him and his team.

"Catch Me If You Can" and "Hero" are in a non-competitive state because not only are their film genres different and their audiences vastly different, but they also face pressure from a true behemoth.

"The box office impact of The Lord of the Rings is terrifying."

Berg spoke very calmly, though his words sounded cowardly.

"We must do everything in our power."

Fang Xinghe expressed his understanding.

You can't understand how terrifying the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings series is if you haven't lived in America during that era.

The film ultimately grossed $3.43 million in North America, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2002 in both North America and worldwide.

It was released on the 18th and is currently in a strong period of box office success.

When three blockbusters are released in the same period, even if the audiences don't overlap, it will still have a huge impact.

If you add in the award-contending blockbuster "Gangs of New York" and the critically acclaimed "Chicago," this year's Christmas season can be described as the most terrifying in the past twenty years.

Despite the huge buzz generated by "Hero" and Fang Xinghe today, once the hype from the previous two days fades and the novelty wears off, moviegoers will still prioritize "The Lord of the Rings."

That's the power of the final chapter in a series.

Moreover, theaters aren't philanthropists; they vote with their feet. Whether it's screening venues or filming times, all films have to rely on the leftovers from "The Lord of the Rings." "Let's talk about the specific terms of the cooperation."

Fang Xinghe appeared calmer than Berg, because he didn't actually have to face the greatest pressure.

"Let me state upfront that we're aiming for awards and will be playing the film for an extended period. Our direct competitors are 'Gangs of New York' and 'Chicago,' so..."

You all have to do your best; I'll just lend a hand.

Berg was completely exasperated by the cunning boy and voluntarily took on the lion's share of the advertising expenses.

"Let's do this... then that... and then this..."

After this brief exchange, Fang Xinghe quickly understood what he wanted to do.

Simply put: It's a publicity stunt to promote the brotherhood between Fang Xinghe and Leonardo DiCaprio.

It's not about deliberately selling bromance, but rather leveraging the star power and buzz of the two actors to create clichéd stories of instant connection, established traditions, and brotherly love, all to grab headlines amidst the pressure from "The Lord of the Rings."

Whether it's print media or television, they all have to set aside a certain amount of space and time each day to report on the interactions between Fang and Li.

There would be a minor hit every three days and a major hit every five days, until the period of dominance of "The Lord of the Rings" passed, at which point the two would part ways and begin competing with each other.

Is this method useful?

It will definitely be useful.

Attention equals box office revenue; the only difference lies in the conversion rate.

No attention equals no box office revenue; even the highest conversion rate is wasted.

This publicity stunt plan was exactly what Mr. Fang wanted, since he was most familiar with this kind of publicity stunt during the film's release period during his years as the head of the online trolls.

The US is more open in this regard; a divorce can be a hot topic for three years, and a breakup can happen as soon as a new movie is released.

In comparison, the brotherhood between the two handsome men was clearly not exciting enough, so Little Li grinned mischievously, put his arm around Fang Xinghe's neck, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Now, you can't escape my party, can you?"

Fang Xinghe patted his belly without making a sound and raised an eyebrow in response: "Don't worry, you can't escape my special training either."

Now it was Xiao Li's turn to have a bitter face...

So, after he came on the court and during warm-ups, Los Angeles Lakers fans were surprised to find that the Wizards' three stars, Berg, Lee, and Tom, gathered on the sidelines and interacted wildly with Fang Xinghe.

"What's going on?!"

Loyal Lakers fans were stunned.

"Why are they trying to steal the spotlight when we're just playing basketball?!"

Lakers fans were dissatisfied, but the female viewers at the stadium and watching on TV were extremely happy.

When Fang Xinghe and Leonardo embraced and chatted amicably, the screams from the women in the audience nearly shattered the megaphone.

"Ah ah ah ah ah……"

"Mom, our dreams have overlapped..."

"Don't call me Mom, I'm officially single and unmarried now!"

In fact, Leonardo DiCaprio has long lost his former charm—even back then, he wasn't the most handsome, just the most effeminate—but the role of Jack is enough to sustain him for at least twenty years.

Even when girls of that generation reach their 40s, they will still fondly remember the movie that amazed them in their youth and illuminated their lives, thus forever holding onto a beautiful, idealized image of it.

Fang Xinghe is the dream lover of this generation of girls and older sisters—it's not quite secure yet, but once he has a few more classic roles, he will undoubtedly be the one.

The two male gods stood side by side, as if they had crossed time and space.

Middle-aged women saw Leonardo DiCaprio's shadow in Fang Xinghe's face, while young girls in the throes of first love, looking at the mature Leonardo DiCaprio, would begin to fantasize about what Fang Xinghe would look like as an adult.

This is particularly interesting, and because there is no direct competition between the two, it becomes endearing.

"Ahhh! I want to marry any of you! Anyone will do! Whatever!"

A girl who was no more than 15 years old jumped out of the audience and was immediately subdued by security.

Xiao Li quickly walked over to her and asked if she was hurt.

Brother Fang frowned at the security guard, his face full of displeasure.

The two award-winning actors have different styles, but they share the same kindness, which makes the female fans scream with excitement.

Contest?

Who the hell cares about this bullshit basketball!
In this atmosphere, the Nth battle between the Lakers and the Wizards finally began.

description?

It can be summed up in two words: They won.

The esteemed commander had no intention of fighting properly, wasting resources throughout the entire field, and was poised to fire at any moment after the midfield, while the other four teammates simply spread out and waited for an opportunity.

Logically speaking, such a chaotic play should have gone wrong, especially since the Lakers had the advantage in rebounding.

As it turned out, Fang Ge's touch was surprisingly good, and Dan Zi also returned to his peak, turning off the retirement mode and giving Kobe a good beating.

—He lost the last matchup, getting crushed by the Lakers by more than 20 points. This is likely to be the last head-to-head showdown between Jordan and Kobe. Coach Dan has decided to quit and just enjoy the show.

The game went on in a cycle of me throwing one shot and him swinging one.

But nobody cared.

Even basketball media outlets are like this.

At the post-game press conference, the basketball fans bombarded him with questions about the movie.

"AS, what's your box office prediction for 'Hero'?"

"AS, when did you and Leonardo meet?"

"AS, what's your relationship with Leonardo like?"

The head of the online trolls knows exactly how to provoke the media and the public's sensitive nerves. He won't say a word when you're talking about something serious; he just makes up stories.

“I haven’t had much contact with Leonardo, but there’s a kind of fateful familiarity between us. The first time I saw him, it was like seeing myself at 35, having gone through a lot and become mature and charming…”

"Yes, I'm going to see 'Catch Me If You Can't Get Away with It.' We agreed to watch each other's movies carefully and give each other feedback..."

"Competitors? No, no, no, we're friends. Box office success is temporary, but friendship lasts a lifetime..."

"Who's more handsome? Is appearance really that important to you?"

"I never care whether my friends are handsome or not, because they can't possibly be more handsome than me anyway."

"Collaboration is possible? I can only tell you, very likely. In fact, we've already been discussing the plot of a new film with two male leads. We both have a lot of ideas, and some of them are quite compatible..."

The media were completely bewildered, their mouths agape the entire time.

The next day, the media coverage of Fang Xinghe and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as "Hero" and "Catch Me If You Can," expanded from the entertainment section to the sports and social sections.

The Lord of the Rings didn't make the headlines yesterday, and it didn't make the headlines today either.

It's foreseeable that there's little chance of anything tomorrow either.

Fang Xinghe went to Brother Li's party, where the pool was full of Hollywood actresses and supermodels.

This was the first time Fang Xinghe had attended such an event since arriving in the United States.

When the party ended, the dog was staggering in a drunken state. Anne Hathaway shoved him into a sports car, and they sped off to the hotel in front of dozens of media outlets.

Although Fang Ge regained consciousness as soon as he entered the elevator, the media was unaware of this.

Thus, the news that "Anne Hathaway got the underage SR drunk, took him to a hotel, and tortured him repeatedly until dawn" once again silenced the box office champion.

It was now the 28th, the third day since "Hero" was released.

After dominating the trending topics for three consecutive days, "Heroes" has weathered its most difficult period and delivered a near-perfect result.

The relevant data was placed on the desks of the chairmen of the six major Hollywood studios.

The publisher of "The Lord of the Rings" is not a human being; they had been preparing a counterattack for a long time, but they were completely suppressed by Fang Xinghe's disgusting tactics.

Three days later, all the film critics who were supposed to have seen the movie had seen it, and all the money that was supposed to be collected had been collected according to their respective camps and inclinations. Finally, a fierce ideological battle officially began.

(End of this chapter)