Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 440, Section 438: A Series of Masterful Moves

Wednesday, November 2002, 7.

Several authoritative and mainstream metropolitan newspapers, including China Film News and Beijing Youth Daily, have published official data reports from the National Film Special Fund Management Office (hereinafter referred to as "the Office") in prominent positions in their culture and entertainment sections.

This marks the first time since the comprehensive advancement of cinema chain reform in early 2002 that, relying on the newly established national cinema computer network ticketing and data statistics system, preliminary box office data covering major cinemas nationwide (excluding a few remote or old cinemas that have not yet completed system access) has been compiled the following day and released to the public in a standardized manner on the third day.

The report clearly outlines the key data for the national film market on Monday, July 15, 2002:

The number of valid screens nationwide is 2672.

Total box office revenue for the day (including all films shown): 885 million yuan.

In the detailed list of individual films, one name caught the attention of all industry professionals and film fans:
I Can See Ghosts with My Left Eye (Mainland China Version)
Opening day: July 15

Screening share: 30%
Box office revenue on the first day: 120 million yuan!

This number, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a thousand waves!
120 million!
On Monday, a traditionally slow day for box office, amidst a host of Hollywood blockbusters (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Pandora's Box Office was still going strong, and Ice Age was currently showing), a modified "wholesale film" from Hong Kong Island managed to rake in 120 million HKD with only 30% of the screenings!

The revenue per screen is as high as approximately 449 yuan, and the occupancy rate is far higher than the market average.

More importantly, its opening day box office share reached a staggering 13.56% of the total box office that day! This far exceeded its screen share, which undoubtedly proves its strong market appeal and extremely high attendance rate!
"Hiss... these figures..." Inside a film company in Beijing, a senior distribution manager looked at the newspaper and gasped. "A licensed film, even edited, can get 120 million on Monday? This Wang Sheng... is he really a Midas touch?"

"30% of screenings, nearly 14% of box office revenue—that's terrifying attendance!" A screening manager at a Shanghai cinema chain immediately picked up the phone. "Hey? Lao Li, how was the attendance for 'The Left Eye' yesterday? ...A huge hit? Several screenings were sold out? Quick! Adjust the screening schedule for tomorrow and the day after, and increase the number of screenings for 'The Left Eye'! Yes, especially the prime-time evening screenings!"

Data doesn't lie.

What theater managers value most is the actual occupancy rate and revenue per theater.

With its stunning opening day ratings, "I Can See Ghosts with My Left Eye" proved one thing to all cinemas: with the strong promotional support of Wang Sheng and Shengying Media, this heartwarming and healing emotional film accurately captured the audience, especially young women and couples, who were bombarded by Hollywood visuals during the summer season and craved emotional comfort.

Its unique genre (urban fantasy romance), solid script, moving performances by Cecilia Cheung and Lau Ching-wan, and the heartwarming ending that Sheng Ying Media promoted as "more in line with the aesthetics of mainland audiences" have formed a strong foundation of word-of-mouth.

On the afternoon of the first day the data was released, film scheduling adjustment orders from cinemas across the country flew out like snowflakes.

According to data tracking by the Special Fund Office over the following days:

On Tuesday, July 16, the national screening rate of "I Can See Ghosts with My Left Eye" rose to 33%, and the daily box office rebounded to 135 million!
On Wednesday, July 17, the screening rate continued to climb to 36%, and the box office remained stable at 128 million!
On Thursday, July 18, the screening rate approached 38%, and thanks to word-of-mouth, tickets for evening screenings were even hard to come by in some cinemas!

The trend is incredibly healthy, and its reputation continues to grow!
On online forums, discussions about "I Can See Ghosts with My Left Eye" remain incredibly popular. "I cried so much! The part where Ah Xin says goodbye to the male ghost at the end, I just couldn't stop crying!"

"I initially thought it was a horror movie and was too scared to watch it, but it turned out to be a romance film that was let down by its title! It was so touching!"

"Cecilia Cheung's acting is phenomenal! Lau Ching-wan's portrayal of the male ghost is so gentle!"

"Shengying has a really good eye for importing films! The adaptation is also spot on. I probably couldn't accept the original ending."

The success of this film is not only a commercial success, but also an excellent illustration of the ideas Wang Sheng expounded in the televised debate: respecting market rules and the emotional needs of the audience, and through appropriate localization and precise promotion, foreign cultural products can be transformed into successful cases that meet the needs of the local market, achieving a win-win situation for both business and reputation.

……

Hong Kong Island, China Star Company office.

Xiang Huaqiang held the urgent faxed report of the first three days' box office data in mainland China, delivered by his assistant, and muttered to himself, "120 million on the first day... 135 million on Tuesday... 128 million on Wednesday... This... this is converted to Hong Kong dollars..."

"I Can See Ghosts with My Left Eye" was released simultaneously in Hong Kong Island and did quite well at the box office, but ultimately only reached the tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars.

But after only three days of release in mainland China, based on this trend and exchange rate, the box office revenue in just three days has already surpassed the total box office revenue in Hong Kong!

And this is just the beginning!
The explosive power that will follow over the weekend is simply unimaginable!
“Ah Lan,” Xiang Huaqiang took a deep breath, looked at his wife, and said with undisguised emotion and a hint of relief, “Do you see that? This is the mainland market… This is President Wang’s methods and power!”

He recalled the seemingly "harsh" cooperation principles that Wang Sheng had proposed earlier, and his slight hesitation when asked to change the ending.

In retrospect, if we hadn't decisively agreed to make the changes and actively cooperated, this film would never have been able to enter the mainland market.

And once they entered the fray, without Wang Sheng and Shengying Media leveraging the momentum of their victory in the televised debate to launch such precise and efficient publicity, they would never have achieved such a phenomenal start.

"Mr. Wang's skills are truly remarkable... His reputation is well-deserved." Cheng Lan nodded slowly, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "A film that we thought had good potential has actually been able to unleash such great energy in his hands. The mainland market is... too big."

She had already begun to consider which films in the company's film library were suitable for this path, and how to conduct deeper and closer cooperation with Shengying Media in the future.

We must cling to Wang Sheng's coattails!
The box office success of "I Can See Ghosts with My Left Eye" in mainland China was like a resounding clarion call, not only shocking the Xiang couple, but also quickly spreading throughout the Hong Kong film industry through various channels.

Those film company owners and producers who previously had reservations about Wang Sheng's cooperation terms or adopted a wait-and-see attitude have now undergone a subtle but profound change in mindset as they look at the solid, steadily rising box office figures.

(End of this chapter)