Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 528, Section 526: A Sound Shakes Both Sides of the Strait (Part 1)
Late on February 28th, Los Angeles time, the excitement and praise of the North American premiere of "Kung Fu Hustle" gradually faded into the shadows of Hollywood stars.

As the lights in Grauman's Chinese Theatre dimmed one by one, the guests and audience members, still eager for more, dispersed, carrying the heated discussion about Eastern kung fu and slapstick comedy to every corner of Los Angeles.

After a lively private celebratory dinner with New Line executives and Stephen Chow, Wang Sheng returned to his suite at the Peninsula Hotel late at night.

Just as I finished my business with Fan Xiaopang, washed up, dried my hair, and was about to go to sleep, the satellite-encrypted phone on my bedside table started vibrating inappropriately and stubbornly.

The caller ID displayed on the screen was Li Tingting.

Wang Sheng frowned slightly.

It was late at night in Los Angeles, while in Beijing, China, it should have been the afternoon of February 29th.

Wang Sheng picked up the phone and answered it.

"Boss, I'm sorry to disturb your rest." Li Tingting's voice came through the radio.

"It's nothing, I just got back to the hotel. What's going on back home?" Wang Sheng asked directly.

He walked to the window, pulled back a curtain slightly, and looked down at Wilshire Avenue, where traffic continued to flow.

Fan Xiaopang watched his retreating figure, then sat up. The blanket slipped off, revealing a patch of white.

“It’s the China Youth Daily,” Li Tingting said succinctly. “Today, the morning of the 29th, the newspaper officially published Zhang Jianwei’s exclusive interview with you, titled ‘Wang Sheng: Being the richest man is just the beginning; my goal is to make Chinese films conquer the world!’”

Wang Sheng grunted in agreement, which was exactly what he expected.

The purpose of this interview is to proactively guide public opinion, showcase Shengying's strategic ambitions and personal sentiments, and avoid being over-interpreted or overpraised by outsiders and those with ulterior motives.

"The article itself basically reflects your core viewpoint, and Zhang Jianwei's writing style is very solid," Li Tingting continued, "The problem lies in the subsequent reactions it triggered. Public opinion has exploded."

"Explode?" Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow, his tone calm. "Tell me the details."

"First of all, the number of reprints and the speed of dissemination exceeded expectations." Li Tingting spoke faster. "Not only through the China Youth Daily's own channels, but also almost all influential portal websites across the country, such as Sina, Sohu, and NetEase, reprinted the full text on their front pages or in prominent positions on their finance and entertainment channels."

Several major financial media outlets and entertainment weekly magazines quickly followed suit, excerpting the core content. Tencent's QQ pop-up pushed out the key points of the interview at noon, and the keywords "Wang Sheng," "richest man," and "conquering the world" became trending topics online within hours.

Wang Sheng listened quietly; this was not entirely unexpected.

His current status and the media attention he generates, coupled with the authoritative platform of the China Youth Daily, inevitably lead to widespread attention.

"What about public opinion?" That's what he's more concerned about.

"The divergence is very obvious, even intense."

Li Tingting paused, seemingly considering her words, "The support is very strong, especially among young netizens and college students."

They believe your speech was inspiring and powerful, linking personal success with the enhancement of the country's cultural soft power, demonstrating the vision and confidence of Chinese enterprises and entrepreneurs in the new era.

Many people left messages on the forum saying that you are their idol, and Sheng Ying's success has given them hope for the future of Chinese films.

"Hmm," Wang Sheng replied noncommittally. These were all the expected positive responses.

“However, the voices of doubt and criticism are equally sharp, and they come from multiple levels.” Li Tingting’s tone became serious. “Some traditional film critics and so-called ‘cultural elites’ have written articles in the media or said in interviews that your remarks are ‘too arrogant’ and ‘full of the arrogance of commercial capital’.”

They questioned the very idea of ​​'conquering the world,' arguing that film is art, not a commodity, much less a tool for 'conquest.'

Some have criticized you for overemphasizing the market and industry, neglecting the artistic essence and social critique of film; some have even associated you with 'cultural chauvinism.'

Wang Sheng remained calm.

He had long been familiar with these arguments; they were nothing more than rehashing old tunes, standing on the so-called "high ground of art" to criticize commercial success and industrial ambitions.

"anything else?"

“Another part of the criticism comes from some economists and some conservative media outlets.” Li Tingting’s voice dropped a fraction. “Their focus is on his status as the ‘richest man’ and his ‘capital expansion’.”

Some articles have subtly questioned whether such a massive private capital giant should be allowed in the cultural sector, and whether Shengying's "full industry chain" model constitutes a monopoly.

Do the 'rules' and 'goals' you proposed imply that capital is attempting to dominate or even hijack the direction of cultural development? These discussions touch upon deeper, more sensitive issues.

Wang Sheng looked through the glass at the blurry mountain shadows under the Los Angeles night sky.

This is the voice that should truly be on our guard.

As the saying goes, "A tall tree catches the wind," and Sheng Ying's rapid expansion, especially in the cultural sphere with its strong ideological attributes, is bound to arouse vigilance and backlash at certain levels.

This subtly echoes his previous discussion with Han Sanping about the issue of "protection of rights".

“In addition,” Li Tingting added, “some potential competitors in the industry, or companies and people who have had conflicts with us, are also secretly fueling the flames.”

Although they dare not attack directly in public, they spread negative information about Shengying's "domineering" behavior, its "squeezing out the survival space of small and medium-sized companies," and "Wang Sheng's personal life" through anonymous leaks and hiring online trolls to stir up trouble, attempting to confuse the public.

Wang Sheng remained silent for a moment.

"What's Chairman Han's reaction?" he asked.

"Chairman Han called this morning to inquire about the situation. He said that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and higher authorities have taken note of the interview and the discussion it has sparked, but it is still in the observation stage."

He reminded us to remain calm, monitor and guide public opinion, and prevent the situation from getting out of control or being exploited by those with ulterior motives.

He emphasized that the core issue is striking a balance between 'cultural confidence' and 'commercial expansion,' responding to the shared vision of promoting the healthy development of the industry.

Han Sanping's attitude was exactly what Wang Sheng expected; it was both protective and a reminder.

"Boss, do we need to organize a formal response immediately? Or should we have the PR department contact a few media outlets with which we have good relations and publish a few interpretive articles?" Li Tingting asked for instructions.

Wang Sheng looked out the window, pondered for about ten seconds, and then slowly spoke, his voice steady and firm: "No need."

"No need?" Li Tingting was somewhat surprised.

"Yes. Any official or deliberate response now could be interpreted as a guilty conscience or suppression, which would only add fuel to the fire."

Wang Sheng calmly analyzed: "Zhang Jianwei's interview has clearly expressed my views and stance. He has said enough and made it clear enough. Now, we need to let things play out for a while."

He paused, then continued his instructions: "Have the public relations department remain on hold and simply maintain routine public opinion briefings."

However, it is important to closely monitor the trends in several key media outlets and online communities, especially those statements that are clearly misleading or offensive, and to record and analyze their sources and motives.

When necessary, we can provide factual data about Shengying's talent development, technology research and development, and support for independent films to reliable media friends through informal channels, allowing them to decide whether to adopt it. However, we will not actively request or exert pressure on them.

"Understood. What about the negative online trolls?"

"Don't worry about it for now. The innocent will clear themselves, and overreacting will only make us seem petty."

As long as it's not malicious defamation that crosses legal boundaries, let it exist. Provide proper guidance; the public, of course, has their own judgment.

Wang Sheng paused for a moment: "However, make a note of those accounts that are most vocal and have the most conclusive evidence, as well as the people behind them. Now is not the time to deal with them. We'll settle accounts later when this storm has passed."

"Yes, boss." Li Tingting understood his strategic intentions.

"Furthermore," Wang Sheng instructed finally, "send me a summary of the full electronic version of the interview in the China Youth Daily, as well as the main opposing viewpoints we've collected. I want to see just how muddy this water really is."

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away."

"..."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Sheng went to knead Fan Xiaopang again...

(End of this chapter)