Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 329, Section 327: Breaking 100 Million and International Flair

Thursday, June 2001, 1.

The capital city was shrouded in the thin winter mist and chill in the early morning, but the newspapers, still smelling of fresh ink, on the shelves set up early at the newsstands were like boulders thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples in all walks of life and in every street and alley of the capital.

The China Film News, an authoritative newspaper that serves as a trendsetter in the industry, unusually devoted almost its entire front page to publishing two news items that are enough to shake the entire Chinese-language entertainment industry and even the Asian film and television industry.

The full-width title on the left is in bold, striking black font:

"A groundbreaking move, a crowning achievement! 'The Proposal' grossed 1.05 million yuan in its first run, making Wang Sheng the first commercial director in China to achieve a '100 million yuan box office'!"

Below the title are detailed data analyses and industry commentary:

"According to our exclusive information, the urban romantic comedy 'Fake Marriage,' produced by Shengying Media and directed by Wang Sheng, was released on December 1, 2000. After its first run, it ended on January 1, 2001. According to preliminary statistics, its total box office revenue during the first run nationwide reached an astonishing 1.05 million yuan (the exact figures are still under final audit)."

This figure not only broke the box office record for domestic commercial films held for four months by Wang Sheng himself with "My Sassy Girl," but also broke the 100 million yuan mark, becoming the first commercial genre film to achieve this milestone since the market-oriented reform of the Chinese film industry.

The report then provided a summary and characterization: "Previously, my country's film market has also had films with outstanding box office performance, such as 'The Birth of a Warrior' and 'Life and Death Choice,' which have achieved a double harvest of social and economic benefits."

However, their themes may fall under the main theme of major historical narratives or be a strong voice of the anti-corruption era, carrying specific social functions and propaganda significance that transcend the scope of commercial entertainment. Their path to success is different from that of purely commercial films driven mainly by the market.

Therefore, director Wang Sheng's achievement of topping the "100 Million Yuan Club" with "The Proposal," a film purely designed for market entertainment, is particularly significant—it marks a new milestone for Chinese commercial films in terms of production, genre exploration, market distribution, and audience acceptance, proving that high-quality domestic commercial films are fully capable of supporting a huge market.

The article also quoted comments from several anonymous industry insiders:
"This is a shot in the arm for the Chinese film market!"

"Wang Sheng and his Shengying Media have defined a new model of success."

"From the inspirational comeback of 'Flying Colors,' to the youthful resonance of 'First Love,' to the genre breakthrough of 'My Sassy Girl,' and finally to the box office success of 'The Proposal,' Wang Sheng has completed a clear and powerful evolutionary path for commercial films in just a few years."

The report concludes by mentioning that a detailed box office analysis, market impact assessment, and an exclusive interview with Wang Sheng will be presented in a subsequent special issue.

Equally prominent on the right side of the newspaper, vying for the spotlight of this major news story, was another report with a more international flavor:
"The 'savage' storm is back! Fan Bingbing, with 'My Sassy Girl,' is taking over from 'First Love,' sweeping across Asia and becoming an international star!"

This report, on the other hand, is written in a more enthusiastic and excited tone:
"Following the 'pure love' craze sparked by 'First Love' in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, 'My Sassy Girl,' produced by Shengying Media, directed by Wang Sheng, and starring Fan Xiaopang and Deng Chao, was released in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and several Southeast Asian countries from mid to late December 2000. Wherever it went, it set off a strong 'sassy' movie-watching frenzy!"

The article details the film's popularity in various locations:
"In South Korea, the film attracted over 600,000 viewers in its first week, prompting the media to haile it as 'another phenomenal work that breaks the stereotype of Chinese films.' The 'beautiful yet fierce' character played by the female lead, Fan Xiaopang, resonated strongly with the mindset of young South Korean women seeking individual expression, and her fashion style became a trendsetter."

"In Japan, Shochiku Films has accurately positioned itself by cleverly combining the core themes of 'savagery' and 'pure love,' successfully capturing a large number of young female and couple audiences. Its box office performance has consistently ranked among the top in the same genre, and film critics have praised it for its 'novel setting and sincere emotions.'"

"In Taiwan, the film was initially screened cautiously, but it achieved a comeback thanks to explosive word-of-mouth. University students became the main force in spreading the word, and the discussion on BBS forums was extremely heated. In the end, it ranked among the top three in the year-end box office and was hailed as the 'biggest dark horse'."

"In Hong Kong and Macau, the Cantonese dubbed version is full of laughs, and every screening in theaters is packed. The media used words such as 'conquered' and 'captivated' to describe its popularity, and Fan Xiaopang was even hailed by Hong Kong media as the 'new goddess of the mainland'."

The report concluded: "From East Asia to Southeast Asia, 'My Sassy Girl' has successfully transcended cultural differences with its unique character settings, hilarious comedic rhythm, and touching emotional core, forming a considerable regional cultural export."

As the leading lady, Fan Bingbing's vivid portrayal of the 'savage girlfriend' has deeply resonated with audiences, solidifying her position as a top-tier actress in China and propelling her to international stardom in the Asian market.

……

These two juxtaposed front-page news stories were like two depth charges dropped in the dead of winter, their shockwaves spreading rapidly.

On the floor of the Jingxin Building where Shengying Media and Enlight Media are located, although Wang Sheng has not yet arrived, the office area is already bustling with excitement and cheers.

The employees passed around the newspaper, their faces beaming with pride and excitement. Li Tingting directed the administrative staff to prepare a large amount of celebratory champagne and pastries, and the entire company was immersed in immense joy and pride.

On the other side of the city, in the high-end apartment arranged by the company, Fan Xiaopang experienced a completely different scene.

Fan Xiaopang didn't want to see Gao Yuanyuan every day, and because of work, he moved out of the school.

Gao Yuanyuan did the same, but she moved directly into a large apartment that Wang Sheng had purchased.

Fan Xiaopang was almost woken up from his sleep by the incessant ringing of the telephone.

Agent Li Tingting's voice trembled with excitement on the other end of the phone: "Little Fatty! Look at today's 'China Film News'! It's on the front page! Both sides are on the front page! You'd better look right away!"

My sleepiness vanished instantly.

Fan Xiaopang jumped off the bed barefoot, rushed to the door, and practically snatched the still-cool newspaper from his assistant's hand.

Her gaze was first drawn to the article about herself on the right.

"...sweeping across Asia..."

"...International Rising Star..."

"...Mainland China's new goddess..."

"...Highly anticipated in the Asian market..."

Each word seemed to possess a magical power, striking her retina and her heart.

Her hand holding the newspaper trembled slightly as she read the report over and over again, as if trying to confirm that every word was not an illusion.

“I…I really…” she murmured, her voice choked with disbelief.

The past few years have felt like a dream.

From the hit TV series "The Legendary Twins" to the inspirational comeback of "Flying Colors", to the box office miracle of "My Sassy Girl" and the overwhelming international acclaim she receives today... she feels like she's on a runaway rocket, soaring straight into the sky.

She recalled the rented bungalow in Beitaipingzhuang, the hardships of "waiting for work" outside the Beijing Film Studio (though it didn't last long, it's unforgettable), the anxiety of being selected as a trainee, and Wang Sheng's face, sometimes stern and sometimes blurry...

All the grievances, perseverance, and sweat seemed to find meaning at this moment.

"Ahhh—!" She suddenly threw down the newspaper and jumped and screamed like a little girl in the spacious living room, venting her overflowing joy without any regard for her image.

The assistant was startled, but then laughed understandingly.

Fan Xiaopang rushed to the full-length mirror, looked at himself in the mirror, his cheeks flushed and his eyes filled with tears from excitement, and pinched his face hard.

"The pain...it's not a dream!" She grinned at the mirror, a wide, unreserved smile spreading across her face. "Little Fatty Fan! You're an international movie star in Asia now! Did you hear that?!"

(End of this chapter)