Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 318, Section 316: Opening Ceremony

In November, the north wind begins to blow in Beijing, and the chill gradually deepens, but the city's warmth seems to defy the changing seasons.

Beside Chang'an Avenue, the "China Film Grand Cinema - Oriental Plaza Store" on the subway level of Oriental Plaza ushered in its historic moment.

The date was November 30, 2000.

Prior to this, all 48 "China Film Grand Cinemas" across the country had already begun trial operations, like pieces placed on a chessboard.

Although some flagship stores' giant screen halls are still being finalized due to equipment debugging or final acoustic decoration, the overall framework has been established, foreshadowing a profound and subtle transformation in China's film screening channels.

Today, this newly launched cinema behemoth chose a uniquely industry-distinctive way for its flagship store's opening ceremony—a star-studded movie premiere.

As evening approached, a long red carpet had already been laid out at the entrance of the cinema.

On both sides of the red carpet, security personnel formed a human wall, and hundreds of media reporters with their long lenses and microphones stood ready. Further out were movie fans and citizens who had rushed over and were eagerly waiting. The noisy crowd and the frequent flashes of the cameras completely dispelled the cold of the winter night.

The giant screen hall, which can accommodate 600 people, is now brightly lit and dazzling.

A brand-new tiered seating arrangement, a giant screen covering an entire wall, and a sound system with preliminary surround sound effects...

Everything exudes a modern feel that is completely different from the old-fashioned single-screen cinemas.

The hall was packed with people. Invited guests, industry colleagues, media friends, and some lucky audience members had already taken their seats. The sounds of conversation blended into a buzzing background noise, and the air was filled with anticipation and excitement.

Tonight's star is "Fake Marriage," an urban romantic comedy produced by Shengying Media and positioned to compete in this year's Lunar New Year film season.

Wang Sheng, as the host and director of the film, arrived at the scene early.

He was wearing a well-tailored dark suit, without a tie, and the top button of his shirt collar was casually undone, giving him a less formal look and a more composed and confident air.

He was talking quietly with Han Sanping, who had arrived earlier.

"Forty-nine theaters have been initially connected." Han Sanping looked around the magnificent theater, his tone filled with emotion. "This step has been taken faster and more steadily than many people imagined."

"We've just laid a solid foundation; the real test will come from operations, content sourcing, and services," Wang Sheng said calmly, his gaze sweeping across the entrance as he watched the guests pouring in. "But at least we have a decent starting point."

Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance. Executive director Wu Yiyi entered, accompanied by lead actors Wang Zhiwen and Li Bingbing.

Wang Zhiwen has risen to become a highly popular actor with his role as "Yu Zecheng" in "Lurking". As soon as he appeared, he was greeted by many guests and pursued by the media.

He responded humbly to each of them, and when he saw Wang Sheng and Han Sanping, he immediately stepped forward to shake hands and greet them with a respectful demeanor.

Li Bingbing was clearly dressed up carefully tonight, wearing an elegant yet charming evening gown that made her look radiant.

Her face was beaming with barely suppressed excitement.

As the female lead in "The Proposal," this was her first time starring in a commercial romance film, and attending such a prestigious premiere made it all the more significant. She gratefully shook hands with Wang Sheng, saying, "Director Wang, thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"You seized the opportunity yourself," Wang Sheng said with a faint smile, encouragingly. "Relax, the movie is very good."

Subsequently, artists from Shengying Group began to arrive one after another, repeatedly pushing the atmosphere to a climax. Fan Xiaopang wore a very elegant designer dress, with exquisite makeup and an aura of confidence.

With the box office success of "My Sassy Girl," she was riding high, and every move she made attracted media attention.

She handled the camera with practiced ease, and as she walked up to Wang Sheng, her eyes sparkled, and she said in a sweet voice, "Mr. Wang, this new cinema is really impressive! Will we hold all our film premieres here from now on?"

His words carried a subtle hint of intimacy and possessiveness.

Gao Yuanyuan chose a beautiful and elegant dress, exuding a gentle temperament that perfectly matched the image of "Xiao Shui," the nation's first love, in "A Little Thing Called First Love."

She quietly walked to Wang Sheng's side, whispered "President Wang," and in their exchange of glances, there was a tacit understanding and complex emotions that were difficult for others to decipher.

Cecilia Cheung also arrived at the event accompanied by her agent, Li Xiuxiu.

She remains beautiful, but compared to Fan and Gao's recent success in film, her main focus is still on television and commercial performances. Facing the media, her smile is sweet, but there is a hint of loneliness and urgency hidden deep in her eyes.

Li Xiuxiu followed closely behind, her gaze towards Wang Sheng becoming increasingly cautious and complex.

Not only that, Ma Yun also unexpectedly appeared in the guest seats.

He was still as energetic as ever, looking around the cinema facilities with great interest, gesturing excitedly to the person next to him, as if he were explaining his theory of "integration of online and offline traffic".

Mr. Chen from Zhejiang Province also arrived, dressed in a suit and tie. Upon seeing Wang Sheng, he bowed from afar with a broad smile, clearly still thinking about participating in the cinema investment.

In addition, Director Yu of Beijing TV, Ouyang Changlin of Hunan TV, Wang Changtian of Enlight Media, director Huo Jianqi, Jiang Wenli and Chen Daoming who gained attention for their roles in "Lurking" and others... six or seven out of ten of the industry's well-known figures attended.

The hall was filled with stars and celebrities, making it the most sought-after social and industry event in Beijing in early winter.

After a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony, the premiere moved into its core segment.

At Wang Sheng's signal, the lights in the entire venue gradually dimmed, leaving only the giant screen lit up.

The opening credits of "The Proposal" appear on the screen accompanied by light and humorous music.

The film tells the story of a career woman, played by Li Bingbing, who enters into a fake marriage with a down-on-his-luck designer, played by Wang Zhiwen, in order to obtain a work visa. However, in the process of dealing with immigration investigations and each other's family and friends, their fake marriage turns into a real one, and they eventually find true love.

The plot is light and humorous, with a fast pace. Wang Zhiwen and Li Bingbing's performances are natural and smooth, with great chemistry.

Laughter occasionally broke out in the theater.

Wang Sheng sat in the darkness, calmly observing the audience's reactions.

He noticed that Han Sanping beside him couldn't help but chuckle and nodded slightly several times.

As the film ended and the lights came back on, the audience erupted in prolonged and enthusiastic applause.

The main cast and crew went on stage to meet the audience. The host, with witty remarks, guided the interaction. When asked about his box office expectations, Wang Sheng took the microphone, his gaze sweeping over the assembled guests and audience, and calmly began:
"Box office figures are the market's answer. What pleases me even more is seeing Chinese filmmakers present our works to audiences in a better hardware environment. 'China Film Grand Cinema' is a new stage we have built, and we hope that more excellent domestic films will meet audiences here in the future."

(End of this chapter)