Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 258, Section 256: Old Han's Show-Off
In October, the capital city was already filled with the colors of autumn.

Golden ginkgo leaves adorn the streets and alleys, the sky is high and clear, and the air is filled with the unique crispness and abundance of the harvest season.

The popularity of "The Birth of a Warrior" did not fade with the end of the National Day Golden Week. On the contrary, like a fine wine that has been brewing for a long time, its aroma has become more and more mellow and spread.

The applause and heated discussions in the cinema gradually spread to the streets, offices, and classrooms.

The film's profound history and powerful spirit, driven by a massive propaganda campaign, have precisely struck a chord with the times, generating a social resonance that extends far beyond the film itself.

October 11th, Monday.

After several days of final statistics and compilation, authoritative data from the Special Fund Office and the distribution department of China Film Group, like a thunderclap, officially resounded throughout the industry:
"The epic film 'The Birth of a Warrior,' a tribute to the nation, grossed approximately 55.57 million yuan at the national box office during the National Day Golden Week holiday from October 1st to 7th (including revenue from group screenings organized by various units, schools, and the military)!"

This number, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up towering waves.

Fifty-five million five hundred and seventy thousand! In just seven days!
In 1999, this was an achievement that would leave all filmmakers speechless.

It not only means that "The Birth of a Nation" has become a phenomenal movie-watching event, but more importantly, it eloquently proves one thing: as long as a patriotic film is made sincerely, shockingly, and skillfully, it can also have unparalleled commercial appeal and market attraction, even far exceeding many commercial genre films.

This completely shattered the stereotype that mainstream films are "critically acclaimed but not commercially successful" and "can only be viewed through administrative orders."

Almost simultaneously, on October 12, the culture section of the China Youth Daily published Wang Sheng's second article on "The Emergence of a Novel" in a prominent position. This time, it was a more personal and emotional reflection on the novel, titled "That Silent Thunder Finally Resounds in Our Hearts".

Compared to the previous film review's macro-level and guiding tone, this review is more nuanced.

In his article, Wang Sheng shared his experience of being a spiritually uplifted audience member in the cinema.

He wrote about the choices and perseverance of those unsung heroes, about the purity and greatness of "doing earth-shattering things while remaining anonymous," and about how the film made him re-examine the connection between personal struggle and the fate of the nation.

He wrote: "Stepping out of the cinema, the autumn night wind brushed my face, but a fire burned in my heart. That fire was lit by the youth and lives of our predecessors. It tells us how an individual's value can find its coordinates in the torrent of the times, and tells us that the word 'faith' is not an empty word; it has truly supported the backbone of a nation... This film is a mirror, reflecting history and also reflecting ourselves; it is also a seed, planting 'thunder' in our hearts, waiting for it to resonate in its respective place and belong to this era."

Wang Sheng's article, with its unique influence and sincere writing, once again added crucial fuel to the popularity of "The Birth of a Nation".

His views have been quoted and discussed by countless young readers, further breaking down the viewing barriers that may exist among some young people, making "watching 'The Birth of a Nation'" not just a patriotic expression, but also a thoughtful, profound, and tasteful cultural consumption behavior.

In the following days, numerous authoritative official newspapers, including People's Daily, Guangming Daily, and Wenyi Bao, published commentary articles or in-depth reports, all focusing on the commercial success of "The Birth of a Nation".

The article points out that "the success of 'The Birth of a Nation' marks a new stage in the creation of mainstream films, proving that ideology, artistry, and entertainment can be organically unified," and praises it for "exploring a feasible path to achieve both social and economic benefits" and "providing valuable experience for the diversified and high-quality development of domestic films."

The official praise and market data have combined to create a powerful force that has propelled the influence of "The Birth of a Nation" to new heights.

The film's screenings remained at a fairly high level after the Golden Week holiday, with many viewers who were unable to see it immediately flocking to the cinemas.

…………

Just as "The Birth of a Nation" was making great strides, filming for "Happy Family" was gradually coming to an end in Huairou, a suburb of Beijing.

After more than two months of intense filming, the atmosphere on set revealed a calm and tacit understanding ahead of the harvest.

Wang Sheng sat behind the monitor, his eyes as sharp as ever. He still demanded perfection in every shot and every line of dialogue, but the entire crew had already adapted to his efficient and precise pace.

Huang Bo's performance became increasingly steady, and he portrayed Chen Mo's complex emotional journey from despair and loneliness to being gradually warmed by his "dream family" and finally achieving self-redemption in a deeply moving way.

Li Xiaoran, along with several veteran actors who played the "dream characters" and the incredibly talented child star, all delivered outstanding performances.

October 14th, afternoon.

With Wang Sheng's clear "Cut! That's a wrap!", the final shot of "Happy Family" was successfully completed in the warm afterglow of the setting sun.

A moment of silence fell over the set, then someone started clapping, and a burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted, sweeping across the entire set. Staff members hugged each other, actors high-fived, their faces beaming with tired yet incredibly satisfied smiles.

"I hereby announce," Wang Sheng picked up the megaphone, his voice still steady and powerful despite the weariness on his face from days of intense work: "The film 'Happy Family' has officially wrapped up filming after 68 days!"

"oh--!"

An even louder cheer erupted.

In the evening, a grand wrap party was held at a distinctive restaurant in Huairou. The entire cast and crew, including the main actors and behind-the-scenes staff, gathered together in a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Wang Sheng, as the director and producer, delivered a brief speech, thanking the entire crew for their hard work and professionalism. He didn't resort to excessive sentimentality, but every word of affirmation was substantial, making everyone present feel respected and appreciated.

“This film is a special journey for each of us.” Wang Sheng raised his glass. “It’s about family, about warmth, about redemption. I hope that when we finish all the post-production and present it on the big screen, it can convey this warmth to every viewer.”

Cheers to Happy Family!

"cheers!"

Everyone responded loudly, raised their glasses together, and the crisp clinking of glasses symbolized the successful conclusion of a period of shared struggle.

The atmosphere at the banquet was lively.

Huang Bo was clearly extremely excited. Holding his wine glass, he approached Wang Sheng, his dark face flushed with the alcohol and excitement: "Director Wang, I...I toast you! Thank you for giving me this opportunity! I...I will definitely..."

He seemed to have a thousand words to say, but he was so excited that he became somewhat incoherent.

Wang Sheng patted him on the shoulder, clinked glasses with him, and said in a calm but powerful tone, "Bo'er, the road ahead is long, and this is just the beginning. Keep up the good work."

"Yes! I understand!" Huang Bo nodded heavily and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

…………

The wrap party has ended.

Wang Sheng returned to his hotel room late at night.

After washing away his fatigue and the faint smell of alcohol, he had just changed into comfortable pajamas and was about to deal with the backlog of text messages on his phone when it started buzzing on the bedside table.

I glanced at the caller ID; it was Han Sanping.

Wang Sheng answered the phone and held it to his ear: "Uncle Han, you're still up so late?"

"Rest? Haha, Shengzi, I'm so excited I can't sleep!"

On the other end of the phone, Han Sanping's voice was loud and clear, filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy, coming through the receiver: "The latest data from the Special Fund Office, who worked overtime! You can't even imagine!"

Wang Sheng walked to the window, looking at the quiet night scene in the outskirts of Beijing, and a knowing smile appeared on his lips: "Oh? The box office for 'The Birth of a Nation' has gone up again?"

"It's more than just increased!" Han Sanping's voice rose several decibels: "As of today, October 14th at 10 PM, the cumulative box office of 'The Birth of a Nation' nationwide has already exceeded 75 million! 75 million! At this rate, breaking 100 million is almost a certainty! The first domestic film to break 100 million in recorded history! Produced by our Beijing Film Studio!"

Despite having anticipated it, the number still brought a flicker of surprise to Wang Sheng's eyes.

He knew the film would be a success, but its success, and the speed of its success, slightly exceeded his initial expectations.

"So fast?" Wang Sheng's tone carried a genuine sense of surprise.

"Yes!" Han Sanping couldn't hide his excitement: "You deserve a lot of credit for this! Your two articles, especially the latter review, were written at the perfect time! They sparked a huge discussion and attracted countless young people who might not have gone to the cinema otherwise! The higher-ups even praised you by name in a meeting, saying it was a successful example of art criticism guiding the market!"

Wang Sheng smiled, his tone humble and sincere: "Uncle Han, you flatter me. I was just speaking my mind. The success of the film is ultimately due to the quality of the film itself, the excellent performances of Li Xuejian and Li Youbin, and the hard work of the entire creative team."

In addition, the distribution network we've built over the past few years, along with the initial establishment of your cinema monitoring system, has reduced underreporting and allowed box office figures to be more accurately reflected...

Most importantly, the times demanded a film like this; the people needed an outlet for their pent-up emotions. We simply happened to be there, standing on this stage at that opportune moment.

Han Sanping on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, seemingly digesting the deeper meaning of Wang Sheng's words, before sighing, "Yes, the trend is set, and we are merely going with the flow! But to seize this 'trend' and turn it into reality, that is our ability!"

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more formal: "By the way, I called you because I have something important to tell you. The Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival awards ceremony will be held on October 20th at the Shenyang Gymnasium in Liaoning Province."

You are a hero and the face of our Beijing Film Studio, no, now it's the Beijing Film Production Company and China Film Group. You've submitted films like "30 Days" and "The Pursuit of Happyness," so you have to be there in person.

I've already had the office send the invitation and itinerary to your assistant. Please remember to check your inbox and prepare accordingly.

Wang Sheng had anticipated this and nodded in agreement, saying, "Okay, Uncle Han, don't worry, I'll be there on time."

"Okay! See you in Shenyang! Let's have a good drink and celebrate!" Han Sanping hung up the phone with a smug look on his face.

(End of this chapter)