Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 181 Chapter 179: Big Ship

The Chinese film industry in March 1998 is destined to leave a significant mark on future chronicles.

Before Cecilia Cheung and "Super Girl" had completely dominated all entertainment news, another "giant ship" from faraway Hollywood had already slowly sailed into the harbor of China after a grand global voyage.

Titanic.

This epic disaster romance film, directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, had already swept the globe at the end of last year, creating an unprecedented box office miracle. With the prestige of winning eleven Academy Awards, it officially landed in mainland China in late March 1998.

Its propaganda campaign was equally epic.

The prime-time advertisements on CCTV-1, the full-page promotions in major national newspapers, the posters that quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys... all channels were conveying the same message: this is a masterpiece of the century that cannot be missed and must be experienced in theaters.

"A global box office phenomenon!", "Eleven Academy Awards!", "An audiovisual feast beyond imagination!", "Witness eternal love and disaster!"...

The perfect combination of official media endorsement and commercial promotion created an irresistible torrent that precisely targeted the viewing sensibilities of everyone from urban youth to the intellectual class and even ordinary citizens.

Movie tickets, especially those for cinemas in major cities, instantly became a hard currency even more sought-after than train tickets during the Spring Festival travel rush.

Official ticket prices are already high, but with scalpers and "insider channels" driving up prices, it's common for them to double or even triple.

Watching "Titanic" is not just a form of entertainment; it has become a fashion statement, a topic of conversation, and a near-ritualistic cultural experience.

Film companies across the country, especially cinemas with advanced sound equipment and large screens, truly experienced what it meant to "make a fortune."

The long lines that stretched day and night, the packed theaters, the rapidly depleting film prints, and the flood of cash... all of this left all film professionals, regardless of their affiliation, speechless.

Zhu Yongde, the general manager of a film and television company in Shanghai, was overjoyed to see the box office figures reported by his subordinates, which showed an almost straight upward trend. At the same time, he was also filled with complicated feelings.

Not long ago, he boasted in an internal meeting that he would make a New Year's film that could rival "30 Days" and open up the summer season. However, faced with the "dimensional reduction attack" of a film like "Titanic", he soberly realized that there is still a gap between Chinese films and Hollywood's top industrial system that is difficult to cross in the short term.

This gap is not just about capital and technology, but also about global cultural appeal and mature industrial chain operations.

……

Time quietly slipped into April.

Spring has finally dispelled the stubbornness of winter in Beijing; willow catkins have begun to drift in the air, and the sunlight has become warmer.

Thursday, April 2nd.

Wang Sheng just returned from a script discussion meeting.

He returned to his office, and before he could even take a sip of water, the door was pushed open.

Li Xiaoran, looking travel-worn, walked in.

She had just finished filming all her scenes in western Hunan for "Postmen in the Mountains" and returned to Beijing.

Perhaps it was the influence of the mountains and rivers that tanned her a bit, but it also added to her healthy vitality. Her eyes were clear, carrying the ease and anticipation of finishing her work.

"came back?"

Wang Sheng put down his teacup and looked at her.

"Okay!" Li Xiaoran walked to his desk, placed her hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and looked at him with bright eyes: "Come on, come with me somewhere."

"Where?" Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow. This girl had just returned and was running out before she could even catch her breath.

"Let's watch a movie!" Li Xiaoran's tone was firm and unwavering, with a hint of coquetry: "Titanic! I've heard it's the hottest movie in Beijing right now! I've been almost completely isolated while filming in the mountains, I have to catch up when I get back!"

Wang Sheng chuckled: "If you want to see it, just have Dajun buy the tickets. Why rush to go now?"

He pointed to several documents that had just been delivered to the table: "I still have some things to take care of."

"No! Now!"

Li Xiaoran walked around the table, grabbed his arm, and pulled him up: "I've found out, there's a screening at Dahua Cinema this afternoon! We can still catch it if we go now! Dajun, go buy the tickets? Do you know how hard it is to buy tickets these days? If we rely on him, it'll be too late!" Wang Sheng couldn't resist her pestering him, and he was also curious about the specific viewing frenzy caused by this phenomenal film that was making history, so he was half-heartedly pulled up by her.

"Okay, okay, I'll go with you. Stop pulling, your clothes will get wrinkled."

Neither of them called a driver; Wang Sheng drove the black Audi himself, taking Li Xiaoran to the Dahua Cinema.

Even from a hundred meters away from the cinema, I could already feel the unusual atmosphere.

The sidewalk was packed with people, mostly young people, couples cuddling together, girls' faces filled with excitement and anticipation. A sign reading "Titanic tickets sold out for today" was already hanging in front of the ticket window, but the crowd didn't disperse; instead, they huddled in small groups, talking quietly and glancing around.

The air was thick with a tense yet fervent atmosphere of searching for opportunity.

"See? What did I tell you?" Li Xiaoran pouted as she looked at the "Sold Out" sign, but her eyes became even more determined. She took Wang Sheng's hand and disappeared into the surging crowd outside the cinema.

Soon, a sharp-eyed young man in a jacket approached and whispered, "Hey bro, sis, want tickets? Titanic, the 4 PM showing, great seats!"

"How much?" Li Xiaoran asked directly.

The scalper held up two fingers and quickly flipped the object over.

"Two hundred? Two bills?" Although Li Xiaoran was somewhat prepared, she was still taken aback by the price. This was almost half a month's wages for an ordinary worker.

"Two hundred each!" the scalper corrected, his tone carrying an air of "take it or leave it" confidence: "That's the price. If you don't want it, there are plenty of people waiting. This is Titanic! The hottest movie in the world! It's absolutely worth it!"

Wang Sheng stood aside without saying a word.

He glanced at the seemingly legitimate movie tickets held in the scalper's hand, and then at the young faces around him who looked troubled by the ticket prices but were reluctant to leave. He gained a more direct understanding of the consumer frenzy sparked by "Titanic".

Li Xiaoran hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and then took out her wallet from her small bag, counted out eight fifty-yuan bills and handed them over: "Give me two!"

"Alright! Here you go!" The scalper deftly took the money, stuffed the ticket into Li Xiaoran's hand, and instantly disappeared into the crowd to find his next target.

"Two hundred yuan a piece..." Li Xiaoran held the two thin but expensive pieces of paper in her hand, took a deep breath with heartache, but then raised her face and smiled at Wang Sheng: "Let's go! Let's go in and experience a blockbuster!"

Wang Sheng smiled at her adorable "go-for-it" attitude, put his arm around her shoulder, and followed the flow of people checking tickets into the movie theater.

The cinema was packed with people, and there were hardly any empty seats.

The air was filled with the sweet smell of popcorn, the scent of perfume, and a restless, collective anticipation.

I found a seat and sat down; the lights gradually dimmed.

During the nearly three-hour viewing, Wang Sheng, as both a professional and an ordinary viewer, was completely immersed in the film.

He had to admit that the visual spectacle Cameron created with money and technology had an unparalleled impact on the big screen in 1998.

The grandeur and detail of the giant ship, and the catastrophic scene of its sinking, are all truly awe-inspiring.

While the core of Jack and Rose's love story, which transcends class, is classic, its storytelling style, pacing, and the actors' captivating performances easily win over audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds around the world.

More importantly, the sex scenes...

My goodness, the uncut version.

He could clearly hear Li Xiaoran sobbing beside him, especially during the part where the elderly Rose throws the "Heart of the Ocean" into the sea and reunites with Jack in the shipwreck hall in her dream. She almost cried uncontrollably and held his arm tightly.

When Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" played at the end of the film and the lights came back on, the entire theater was filled with a collective emotional release and a sense of dazedness. Many people still had wet tear stains on their faces, their eyes were red, and they were reluctant to leave for a long time.

"It's...it's so shocking..." Li Xiaoran murmured, wiping her eyes with a tissue, her voice still nasal from crying, "Jack...why couldn't he have survived..."

Wang Sheng didn't say anything, but just gently patted her back.

(End of this chapter)