HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 438 [438] The 01 Lunar New Year Film Season Battle: "My Sassy Girl" vs. "Big Shot's Funeral"?
Qi Yuan recorded both the Chinese and English versions of "I Believe" and handed them over to Wang Jing.

"My Sassy Girl" has already passed censorship.

Qi Yuan has a unique characteristic of being 'unimpeded'; as long as his scripts have a sound stance, they receive the green light in the censorship process.

So much so that Wang Jing was a little confused when he submitted the application for review.

Isn't it said that the censorship in mainland China is stricter? Why doesn't he feel anything at all?
After much thought, Wang Jing could only conclude that this was a benefit brought about by Qi Yuan!
He couldn't think of anyone else besides Qi Yuan.

Although he didn't know why Qi Yuan had such a big reputation, decades of experience in the martial arts world told him not to ask about things he shouldn't know.

He's a businessman; all he needs to know is that cooperating with Qi Yuan will make money.

Wang Jing has his sights set on this year's Lunar New Year film season.

The Lunar New Year film season covers a wide period, from the end of November to the beginning of March of the following year.

As for the Spring Festival film season, it was only ten years later that Stephen Chow's "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" first ignited a large-scale box office during the Spring Festival, and cinemas then began to differentiate the concept of the Spring Festival film season as an independent category.

Currently, the most popular time for the Lunar New Year film season is generally considered to be from late December to early January, which coincides with Christmas and New Year's Day.

Feng Xiaogang, known as the king of Chinese New Year films, usually releases his films around this time.

Normally, no director would dare to compete with Feng Xiaogang for this release date.

This time is an exception; Wang Jing has set December 25th for a simultaneous release in Hong Kong and mainland China.

……

Wang Jing's Best Partner Film Company and Starry Sky Film Company simultaneously announced the release date in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Feng Xiaogang of Huayi was furious.

"That fat bastard Wang Jing, how dare he? We've already announced the release date as the 21st, and he's set it for the 25th. Is he trying to go head-to-head with me?"

Ever since Chen Kaige helped Qi Yuan direct "The Bouquet," Huayi Brothers has stopped claiming he is the most successful commercial film director in mainland China.

The box office of "The Bouquet" exceeded the combined box office of all his other films.

However, no one can take away the title of "King of Chinese New Year Films" from mainland China for the time being.

The Lunar New Year film season has always been Feng Xiaogang's domain, which is why he's unhappy about it.

No one else dares to directly compete with him in the Lunar New Year film season in mainland China, so what gives Fatty Wang the right? Just because you used Fan Bingbing?
Forget the "Four Little Actresses" and the Tokyo Film Festival Best Actress; the one who carried the box office for "Bouquet" was Qi Yuan.

Wang Jing's film doesn't have Qi Yuan, and the total investment is less than 20 million. Where does he get the courage to compare with "Big Shot's Funeral"?

Feng Xiaogang even believes that Wang Jing is challenging his status as the king of Lunar New Year films.

The Wang brothers, Zhongjun and Zhonglei, were also somewhat frustrated. They wanted to know what Fatty Wang was really thinking. Didn't he understand the principle that when two tigers fight, one will surely be injured?
And then there's Qi Yuan. Xingkong is one of the biggest investors and producers of "My Sassy Girl". Couldn't Qi Yuan have advised Fatty Wang?

Despite his displeasure, Wang Zhongjun calmly analyzed the situation: "You can't blame Fatty Wang. Maybe he's confident in his film. He's aiming for the best release window of late December to early January."

The Lunar New Year film season isn't something we own; we can release films, and so can they.

To avoid any loss of benefits for everyone, we can discuss with them about staggering our schedules.

We're keeping the release date of the 21st unchanged, but we've opted to release it on Christmas Day, the 25th.

They changed the release date to the 30th; New Year's Day is theirs.

Wang Zhonglei immediately contacted Wang Jing.

Wang Jing is a businessman. He doesn't harbor deep hatred and won't go to extremes. It's good for everyone to make money peacefully.

Wang Jing agreed to adjust the schedule, but on the condition that both parties adjust it together.

It would be fair to release "My Sassy Girl" on the 21st first, and move Feng Xiaogang's "Big Shot's Funeral" to the 30th.

If Huayi Brothers and Feng Xiaogang don't make adjustments, and only Wang Jing makes adjustments unilaterally, it will appear to outsiders that Wang Jing lacks confidence in his film, easily attracting negative public opinion. Wang Jing's request is reasonable.

The two brothers also felt there was no problem.

The problem lies with Feng Xiaogang; he's unhappy about it.

"Adjusting release dates together? I am the king of Lunar New Year films in mainland China. Why should I cooperate with him to adjust release dates? His era is over. The films he made in Hong Kong in the past two years have barely grossed a few million at most."

They can make changes if they want, or stay the same if they don't. Let's see who's afraid of whom.

Feng Xiaogang's previous films were all box office successes. He has an inherent arrogance and doesn't really think much of Wang Jing.

From his perspective, agreeing to Wang Jing's request was tantamount to admitting that Wang Jing was capable of competing with him in the mainland market, which was unacceptable to him.

Wang Zhonglei couldn't hold back any longer; he felt an urge to curse.

Damn it, I've already negotiated with Wang Jing, we'll each take one of the holidays, Christmas and New Year's Day, and you still have to cause trouble?

Finally, Wang Zhongjun glared at Wang Zhonglei in time, which prevented the latter from losing his temper on the spot.

After Feng Xiaogang left the office, Wang Zhonglei expressed his confusion.

Wang Zhongjun said, "Let him be. Xiaogang has really gotten a bit cocky in the last year or two, always talking about making big productions."

Letting him suffer a loss once might not be a bad thing. Having been beaten up and humiliated, he'll be too embarrassed to ask us for money to make a big production anytime soon.

……

Hong Kong.

Wang Jing received another reply from Huayi: no changes, are they just teasing him?

He found Qi Yuan, who had just finished a book signing event, and complained, "That company in mainland China called Huayi..."

Wang Jing explained the whole story to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan didn't find it particularly strange. He knew that Feng Xiaogang was a key figure in Huayi's rise, and the two Wang brothers couldn't treat Feng Xiaogang as a subordinate.

It's highly likely that Wang Xiaogang and Wang Zixia couldn't reach an agreement.

Soon, Feng Xiaogang's reaction confirmed Qi Yuan's guess.

Feng Xiaogang, speaking through the media, stated that the release date of "Big Shot's Funeral" remains unchanged, and that he is not afraid of any challengers, welcoming any challengers.

Although no names were mentioned, it was clear to everyone who these words were meant for.

Feng Xiaogang is essentially sending a message to Wang Jing: either you change it, or you'll get a beating.

Wang Jing was displeased: "This is outrageous! Does he really think I'm afraid of him?"

He was quite impressive back then, with films like "Fight Back to School" and "God of Gamblers" grossing 40 to 50 million yuan each, more successful than Feng Xiaogang's films.

It's just that the Hong Kong film market hasn't been doing well in recent years, and he hasn't been putting in as much effort, so his performance has been a bit lackluster.

However, he swore that he put his heart into making "My Sassy Girl," which was his first film with Starry Sky Entertainment, and he really didn't hold back.

Qi Yuan pondered for a moment: "Let's change the schedule."

Wang Jing: "???"

No, even Qi Yuan doesn't believe him?
Qi Yuan added, "It's been changed to the 21st, the same day as his release."

We've given him face so he can have a dignified ending. If he doesn't want that dignity, then let's help him have one.

(End of this chapter)