Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

Just as Gu Qing was traveling across the ocean, waiting for the new script for Wolf Warrior.

The ever-evolving arena of fame and fortune in the Chinese entertainment industry has once again unleashed a new, even more extravagant and noisy wave.

This time, standing at the forefront is Guo Xiaosi, who holds the dual identities of a "famous" writer and a "famous" director.

He returned to the public eye with a powerful presence, carrying "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties," a project years in the making and touted as "the first fully live-action CG fantasy epic in Chinese cinema."

The film has not yet been officially released, but its marketing and promotional efforts have already been overwhelming.

Online and offline, subway and bus, social media splash screen ads, entertainment headlines... everywhere you look...
Almost every poster for "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" is gorgeous yet gloomy, full of Western fantasy elements, but also bearing the distinct "Guo-style" aesthetic imprint.

The propaganda slogans were shouted loudly—

"The Chinese version of 'A Song of Ice and Fire'"

"Opening a new era for Chinese fantasy films"

"An epic chapter that subverts visual imagination"...

Every adjective is exaggerated to the extreme, attempting to pre-emptively anchor the audience's expectation of a "groundbreaking masterpiece".

Major cinema chains and investors also have high expectations for the film's box office performance.

Simply put, the star-studded cast is so dazzling that it's a veritable feast for the eyes:
Top actress Bingbing played the female lead, while Kris Wu, who was at the height of his popularity at the time, played the male lead "Yin Chen".

In addition,

There are also a group of actors who are both popular and recognizable, including Yan Yikuan, Chen Xuedong, Chen Weiting, and Guo Caijie.

Even Yang Mi and Aarif Rahman made cameo appearances, making the cast so luxurious and the scope so broad that it would make any commercial film investor envious.

Perhaps it's because the success of "Detective Chinatown" greatly boosted market confidence.
This has led industry insiders to believe that domestic audiences' enthusiasm for watching movies and their spending power have entered a phase of explosive growth, and they are particularly receptive to these "visual blockbusters" that bring together top-tier audiences.

In many cinema chains' internal forecasting models, the box office of "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" is optimistically estimated to be between 15 billion and 20 billion RMB.

after all,

With the combined influence of Bingbing and Kris Wu, these two top-tier celebrities, even if they fall short of Gu Qing's level, they should at least have half of his box office appeal, right?

Everything went smoothly, and all that remained was to reap the rewards of box office success and widespread acclaim upon the film's release.

however,
On the eve of the film's official release, an unexpected incident cast an awkward shadow over this lavish event.

The controversy originated from Huangguo TV's flagship variety show, "Happy Camp".

This episode is a special promotional event for the "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" film crew.

Da Bingbing, Chris Wu, Yan Yikuan, Chen Xuedong, and director Guo Xiaosi were all present.

The recording process of the program should have been a harmonious exchange of business compliments, and host He Jiong, as always, played the role of lubricant and topic guide.

When the process reached the stage of interviewing the director...
Teacher He smiled and asked a routine question: "Director Guo Jingming, what qualities did you see in Kris Wu that made you choose him to play such an important role as Yin Chen in 'L.O.R.D.'?"

This is clearly an easy question that gives the director a chance to praise the male lead while reinforcing the audience's expectations.

According to common sense,

Guo Jingming will likely speak eloquently about Kris Wu's unique charisma, professionalism, or high degree of compatibility with the role.

But to everyone's surprise,

After Guo Xiaosi took the microphone, the professional smile on his face faded slightly. He spoke slowly in a tone tinged with regret and reminiscence:

"Actually... when I first conceived the character 'Yin Chen', the first image that came to mind was Gu Qing."

As soon as he finished speaking, the recording studio seemed to be muted.

Teacher He's smile froze instantly, her eyes widened slightly, and her mouth unconsciously opened into a small arc.

Even someone as experienced as him was momentarily overwhelmed by shock and the embarrassment of "this is terrible."

Chris Wu, who was standing to the side, froze with a natural smile, looking utterly astonished.

Even the "Meigeni" fans, who had been excitedly waving their light sticks and preparing to cheer for their idol, let out a chorus of low gasps mixed with confusion and dissatisfaction: "Huh—?"

Guo Xiaosi seems unaware of the destructive power of the "depth charge" he dropped.

He paused briefly before adding, "However, due to some reasons, the collaboration with my younger brother couldn't be completed. That's why we later found Kris Wu to 'save the day'."

I am very grateful for Kris Wu's contribution at this crucial moment.

Although he added a seemingly "compensatory" second half,
But phrases like "initially favored Gu Qing" and "rescued" are like tiny thorns.

It struck Kris Wu's heart with pinpoint accuracy.

Fortunately, Teacher He possessed exceptional professional skills and quick wit, which saved the day.

He quickly adjusted his expression and cleverly steered the conversation away from the topic, emphasizing Kris Wu's efforts for the role, thus managing to stabilize the situation.

It may be stable,

When this episode of "Happy Camp" aired as scheduled on Saturday night, the production team still released this controversial scene directly.

The resulting buzz and high viewership are bound to be huge; which TV station could resist that?
Guo Xiaosi's speech and the moment when everyone present lost control of their facial expressions naturally caused a huge uproar.

The onlookers were overjoyed.

"Hahaha, is Guo Jingming just throwing caution to the wind or is this just his true nature? Saying someone is a backup plan to their face?"

"I watched Teacher He's expression ten times, and every time I burst out laughing! Is that even a human being can make a shocked expression?"

"Kris Wu's frozen smile at that moment could be included in the 'epic awkward moment' compilation! Fan Bingbing's look next to him was also hilarious."

"I would call this scene one of the most classic 'socially embarrassing moments' in the history of Chinese variety shows. No script could have written such dramatic lines!"

"Do Guo Jingming and Chris Wu have some kind of conflict in private? This is obviously intentional, isn't it? It's so sarcastic!"

Neutral viewers, enjoying the spectacle, felt the show was even more exciting than the trailer for "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties".

But Kris Wu's fans, the "Megnis," felt unprecedented humiliation and anger.

"What does Guo the Shorty mean?! Is he openly humiliating our Fanfan?!"

"Without Fanfan saving the day, who would watch your lousy movie? You weren't acting like this when you were begging Fanfan to act in it!"

"I've seen people with low emotional intelligence, but I've never seen anyone this low! And in the first place, he wanted to find Gu Qing? Does Gu Qing know you're helping him 'attract hatred' like this?"

"Sisters, we can't let this go! We have to teach that shorty Guo a lesson! Boycott 'Legend of Ravaging Dynasties'! What kind of Kris Wu fans are we if we don't stand up for him?!"

Fans were outraged and quickly organized themselves, flooding Guo Jingming's and "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" social media with protests, demanding an apology and calling for a collective boycott of the film, creating a powerful momentum.

But just as the fans were getting ready to "fight" for their idols,
A post by Chris Wu served as a wake-up call to all the passionate "Megni" fans.

On the eve of the movie's release,

Chris Wu posted a promotional message on his social media account right on time, in a friendly and positive tone: "Tomorrow, 'Legend of Ravaging Dynasties' will meet everyone. I'm so excited! I look forward to your support. Love you all, Meigeni!"

The text is followed by an exquisite movie poster and a link to purchase tickets.

This post was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the fans' newly ignited "fighting spirit".

"Why?!"

Countless fans were stunned, confused, and even felt a chill and betrayal in front of their screens.

"Your Highness! We were just about to fight for you, how could you surrender instead?"

"Guo Xiaosi said those things about you, how can you still smile and promote him?!"

"We don't understand! We really don't understand!!"

"We were cheering you on from the front, boycotting bad movies and standing up for you, how could you... kneel down so quickly from behind?"

The fan group instantly erupted in chaos, filled with dissatisfaction, disappointment, and confusion.

Many fans felt that their enthusiasm and actions to defend their idol's dignity had turned into a ridiculous, wishful joke.

of course,

Loyal "core fans" also quickly stepped in to "control the situation" and "interpret" the situation:
"Fanfan is so kind and generous! He doesn't hold grudges and focuses on his work. That's the true spirit of an idol!"

"Yes! Don't you understand professional ethics? This movie is everyone's hard work. How could Kris Wu let his personal emotions affect the promotion?"

"Aren't those people clamoring for a boycott fake fans? Real Kris Wu fans should support all of his decisions! Everyone go buy tickets tomorrow!"

"Those who question Fanfan, reflect on yourselves first! If there are any more discordant voices, don't blame the management for being impolite!"

quickly,

The "noise" in the group was quickly cleared away.

Those who raised doubts were muted, and those who used strong language were kicked out of the group chat. The fan group quickly returned to its usual orderly and praise-filled "harmonious" state.
Beneath this harmony, however, lies a subtle undercurrent of unspoken loss and a sense of disconnect among some fans.

Then,

Why would Kris Wu make such a seemingly "backstabbing" and humiliating move against his fans?

The answer is simple: he wants to make money!
Guo Xiaosi's public veiled criticism naturally made him extremely unhappy.

But Kris Wu cares more about tangible benefits.

He finally managed to secure a box office revenue sharing contract for "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" from Guo Jingming, with a percentage as high as 10%.
It successfully mirrored the revenue-sharing model used by Gu Qing in "Detective Chinatown".

This is a crucial step for him to prove his worth to investors and join the ranks of actors with "box office appeal." He's fighting for this reputation and wants this "prestige."

With the movie's release imminent, if fans launch a large-scale boycott, leading to a dismal box office performance, his share of the profits will be significantly reduced, causing him to lose face and suffer even greater losses.

When faced with two evils, he naturally prioritizes preserving his economic interests and his "contractual" image within the industry.

As for the fans' feelings?
It's nothing.
Send them some nine-grid photos, and they'll be scrambling to lick my handsome face.

……

Why did Guo Jingming dare to "reveal" himself like this on the eve of the film's release, mercilessly criticizing his own leading actor?
Naturally, after Chris Wu successfully secured a 10% revenue share contract, the teams of the other main actors in the "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" production team also followed suit.

They all put pressure on the production companies, demanding that fixed-salary contracts be replaced with box office revenue sharing contracts.

Everyone wants to be like Gu Qing and gamble on a chance to have a box office hit and double their income.

Faced with the situation where "everyone wants to get a piece of the pie," Guo Jingming, as the director and main copyright holder, felt immense pressure and irony.

Production costs are already high, and if all the main actors take a share, their own income will be severely squeezed if the box office falls short of expectations.

A mentality of "giving up" and "revenge" has quietly emerged.

"Go ahead and stir it up! Go ahead and stir it up!"

"You all want to be like Gu Qing? You really think box office revenue is so easy to get? Fine, take it all! I might as well not make any money this time, let's see who comes out on top!"

With this mindset,

Guo Xiaosi agreed to all the actors' requests to change their profit-sharing contracts.

As a result, a strange phenomenon occurred during the later stages of filming "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties".

The actors were highly motivated because of the box office expectations, and the set was often filled with laughter.

As for the director, Guo Jingming was lazy and listless, sitting in his chair, completely slacking off.

Regardless of whether the performance is good or bad, he will never make a second take if it can be done in one take.

Without box office revenue sharing, how else can this director make money?

Of course, it's the investors' funding for filming, the film's advertising sponsorships, and the subsequent successful production.

Wouldn't all the money saved become his?
Therefore,
When "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" was about to be released, Guo Jingming didn't even spend much money on publicity and distribution.

Don't be fooled by the hype online.

The trending topics were all bought by Bingbing, Kris Wu, and others who each paid out of their own pockets.

that's it,
The next day, we arrived at the cinema where "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" was officially released.

At the entrances of cinemas in second- and third-tier cities, large and small.

On Sunday,

Small groups of couples, hand in hand, sweetly bought tickets for "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" and prepared to enter the theater to pass the time.

This kind of live-action/animated CG theme really appeals to young viewers, and it has quite a few supporters.

But when they entered the theater,
As I sat down and the film played, all the laughter and joy on my face vanished.

The total duration is 121 minutes, or two hours.

When the first group of viewers emerged from the theater, the expressions on their faces were no longer those of anticipation and excitement they had shown upon entering.
Instead, it was a unified sense of bewilderment, confusion, and intense anger at being deceived.

What...did I just see?

"Is this really a movie? Or is it just a graduation project from some university's animation department?"

"This special effects... were they made for five cents? The birds flying in the sky look like pages flipping through a PowerPoint presentation!"

"Why are the characters' expressions so stiff? They look like wax figures! What happened to Bingbing and Fanfan's faces? They're completely unrecognizable!"

"What is the plot about? It's all over the place, where's the logic?"

"A complete scam! A waste of time and money!"

Inside the theater, some people got up and left half an hour after the movie started, and nearly half of the audience left an hour later.

As the movie nears its end, the huge theater is often left with only a handful of people. Some are reluctant to spend the money on tickets and are holding on, while others are driven by curiosity, thinking, "Let's see how bad it can be."

The outbursts of anger from the first group of viewers leaving the theater quickly impacted subsequent screenings.

Some people didn't believe in superstitions and insisted on entering, only to come out two hours later and curse even more fiercely.

"L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties is the worst movie I've ever seen in my life! Bar none!"

"Anyone who buys a ticket is a fool! Trust me, there are so many better things to do with that money!"

"Give me my money back! Can I get my money back?!"

How bad was the previous version of "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties"?

It was so bad that even fans of top celebrities like Chris Wu and Bingbing couldn't control the comments or defend it on the first day of its release.

The current version of "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" is even worse!
Because of Gu Qing's butterfly effect, a large number of artists in the industry have been stirred up.

Any artist who thinks they have a bit of popularity will ask the director for an exorbitant share of the profits.

Furthermore, there is the successful case of Gu Qing.

lead to,

Many producers were forced to agree to the demands, and the rights of directors were further diminished.

If the director is incompetent, even if you, as an actor, are blessed with superb acting skills, it won't help.

Not to mention,
These people can hardly be considered good actors.

thereby,
In just half a day, the reputation of "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" was completely ruined online.

Numerous photos taken secretly in movie theaters have been leaked.

The terrible CG visuals, zombie-like character models, and special effects completely dampened the moviegoers' enthusiasm for watching the film.

The key is,

"L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" will not engage in any public relations efforts; director Guo has chosen to play dead.

When asked, the answer was always the same: no money.

His reputation was already bad, so you can criticize him however you want.
He didn't care at all.

that's it,
A day later, the opening day box office figures for "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" were released, showing a staggering 3162 million yuan!
It even achieved an unprecedented 2.9 rating on Douban.

Seeing this result,

Guo Jingming laughed, leaving the actors from "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" completely stunned.

You think you can argue with me?

Fight with me?
Do you guys think you're Gu Qing?!
Guo Jingming can afford the cost of a flop movie.
Not to mention,
He wrote and directed the film himself, and even owns the copyright to it.

Furthermore, due to the revenue-sharing contract, the lower the production cost of the film, the more money he makes.

How can you call this a pounce?

He'll only lose money if the movie is a huge box office hit.

Moreover, Guo Jingming wasn't stupid; he proactively returned a portion of the money to the investors afterward.
They even set their sights on the current actors, who are all too eager to get a piece of the action, easily uniting their forces.

that's it,
On the second day of its release, due to the widespread negative word-of-mouth and numerous calls from viewers to "avoid the bad movie," cinemas saw a surge in refund requests and empty screenings.

Many viewers even expressed their dissatisfaction in the theater, leading to small-scale disputes.

Official media outlets also criticized it by name, directly calling it "shoddy" and "disrespectful to the audience."

Under immense public pressure and practical business considerations, several cinema chains reacted swiftly.

"L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" was forced to adjust its screening schedule, being pulled from prime time and opting for a "short-term release".

As for when it will be "adjusted" and re-released on a large scale, that remains a mystery.

finally,
This "fantasy epic," which boasted an investment of 1.5 million yuan, barely broke the 5000 million yuan mark at the box office after only two days of public release, before it was hastily pulled from the market and suffered a dismal exit.

Then,

How much money do the actors who signed box office revenue sharing contracts ultimately receive?

"Over 50 million in box office revenue... 10%... 5 million?!"

"I've been busy since last year, turned down so many events, and spent half a year working on this film set, and this is all the money I got in the end?!"

"The company is going to take half?! I'll only get 250 yuan?!"

"Do I look like an idiot?!"

"Gu Qing! It's all because of Gu Qing! Why?! Why does he get three hundred million?!"

As you can imagine,

When Chris Wu and his team actually calculated the profits, they felt a surge of anger and frustration, yet had nowhere to vent it, leading to a breakdown.

This "battle to vindicate" that he had placed high hopes on not only failed to make him a "powerful box office actor," but may instead make him a laughing stock and cause him heavy financial losses.

Furthermore, the disastrous failure of "Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" had far-reaching consequences.

It was like a boulder thrown into the pond of the domestic entertainment industry, officially firing the first shot in the battle of young heartthrobs.

This not only further deepened the audience's aversion to idol stars,
News also surfaced online that Kris Wu, Bingbing, and others chose to receive actor revenue-sharing contracts.

All sorts of rumors kept popping up, such as that the actors were not proper on set, were late, acted like divas, and lacked professional ethics. True and false news sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

Disgusted by the bad movie, moviegoers started hurling insults and shouting that they would boycott popular celebrities and high salaries, calling these young idols trash and saying they didn't deserve so much money.

Behind this are naturally the managers of major companies, who are fueling the flames and want to further suppress the power of big-name artists so that they can have easier control.

then,

An interesting scene unfolded.

These top-tier, first-tier, and second-tier celebrities have started to band together and unanimously buy trending searches for one person:

"Gu Qing!"

This young colleague they envied and hated the most.

But now he has become their savior.

Didn't you guys say that popular celebrities are no good?

Do popular celebrities not deserve high salaries?
Don't young male idols have any good works?

Gu Qing is the best example of the opposite!

The harsher the criticism in the past, the more praise they'll receive now.

Pushing Gu Qing to the front to shield them from the storm is undoubtedly the best choice at the moment.

And you know what? It actually worked!

From all the condemnations against young, popular male celebrities.
became:
"Gu Qing is Gu Qing, and you are you. How can you be the same?!"

"How is he different? Isn't he a young artist? Isn't he a heartthrob?"

"Gu Qing is a truly capable person!"

"What kind of actor is he? He's just an idol, he only acts in idol dramas. Without his face, who would like him?"

"Isn't 'Brotherhood of Blades' a martial arts film?"

"It's only been a few minutes. Is Gu Qing the lead actress?"

"If you're so tough, why don't you make him film a movie and see what happens?!"

The public outcry against young male idols gradually shifted to whether Gu Qing was an idol or a talented actor.

In contrast to the ups and downs in the Chinese entertainment industry,

After spending two days in Feizhou, Gu Qing finally received her new script.

……

...(End of chapter)