Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 529, Section 527: A Tremendous Sound Resounds Across Both Sides of the Strait (
Los Angeles time, February 29, 2004, early morning.

A thin veil of dawn light pierced through the gaps in the hotel suite's heavy blackout curtains, stubbornly casting a narrow strip of light across the carpet, with fine dust motes dancing silently within the beam of light.

When Wang Sheng opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was the heavy pressure coming from his arm, and the sweet scent lingering around his nose, a mixture of expensive perfume and a hint of languid breath.

He turned his head slightly, and Fan Xiaopang, like a boneless, beautiful snake, was almost wrapped around him, fast asleep.

Her thick, long hair was scattered messily on the pillow, also covering half of her face. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyelids, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Wang Sheng gently withdrew his arms from her neck and embrace, carefully so as not to wake her.

Fan Xiaopang groaned in his sleep, turned over, and continued to sleep soundly, hugging the blanket. His smooth back gleamed with an ivory-like luster in the dim morning light.

Wang Sheng put on his bathrobe and went into the bathroom.

Warm water flows down, washing away the fatigue and beauty of the night.

His young and energetic body was reflected in the mirror, with smooth muscle lines and no excess fat. His eyes regained their clarity after a short rest.

As I walked out of the bathroom, drying my wet hair, the suite's living room was already filled with the aroma of coffee and food.

A middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes and with a sharp expression—one of his two "masters of the inner palace" working in shifts—was standing quietly by the dining table.

Upon seeing Wang Sheng emerge, he bowed slightly: "Chairman Wang, breakfast is ready and has just been inspected."

Wang Sheng nodded and sat down at the dining table.

His personal food safety has long been under the highest level of control.

Since Sheng Ying Media went public and he became the richest man in China, coupled with his stirring up a storm in the international film industry, potential business rivals, envious peers, and even certain unspeakable forces may pose a threat.

Poisoning, a seemingly ancient tactic, is not impossible when faced with enormous profits and complex power struggles.

Therefore, his daily diet, including everything he ate outside, had to be handled by these two highly trained "experts" who were proficient in pharmacology and security checks.

Breakfast is a typical American combination, but the ingredients are clearly sourced and reliable: the fried eggs are cooked to perfection, the bacon is crispy and fragrant, the whole wheat bread exudes the aroma of wheat, and there is a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a small dish of fruit on the side.

But the coffee beans, oats, and even water used for the core cup of hand-drip coffee and the seemingly ordinary oatmeal porridge were all provided by the assistant team themselves.

Wang Sheng picked up his knife and fork and began to enjoy this "safe" breakfast.

On the other side of the dining table, a stack of today's newspapers was neatly arranged.

The top one is the entertainment section of the Los Angeles Times.

Below the front page was a large photo of last night's premiere of "Kung Fu Hustle," featuring a group photo of Stephen Chow, Wang Sheng, Fan Xiaopang, and New Line executives in front of the Grauman Chinese Theatre.

The headline is quite eye-catching: "Eastern Kung Fu Comedy Returns, Kung Fu Hustle Premiere Ignites Anticipation!"

The article lavishes praise on New Line Cinema's public relations efforts, describing the premiere as having "a star-studded atmosphere comparable to A-list blockbusters," and listing in detail the presence of heavyweight guests such as Quentin Tarantino and Johnny Depp, suggesting that this reflects Hollywood's mainstream recognition of Stephen Chow's style and producer Wang Sheng's work.

The report highlighted the film's visual effects and action design, citing initial positive reviews from several film critics on social media, who believed that it "builds upon the nonsensical humor of its predecessor to create a more immersive fantasy martial arts world," and that "the imagination and execution of the action scenes are first-rate."

Wang Sheng quickly browsed through the pages, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

The huge public relations expenditure invested by the new line has at least shown results in the pre-launch media hype phase. These seemingly objective reports reveal a smooth process mediated by money and resources.

He then opened The Hollywood Reporter.

This authoritative media outlet in the industry provides a more in-depth analysis.

In addition to reporting on the premiere, a small section was dedicated to analyzing the potential of "Kung Fu Hustle" in the North American market.

The article points out that the previous film, "Shaolin Soccer," achieved a box office miracle of nearly $100 million through its long run, which laid a solid foundation of audience and generated high expectations for "Kung Fu Hustle."

"New Line Cinema clearly hopes to replicate and even surpass this successful model. With a more mature distribution network, more precise marketing strategies, and the growing international appeal of the 'golden duo' of Wang Sheng and Stephen Chow, 'Kung Fu Hustle' is expected to create an Eastern craze in the spring season, and its opening weekend box office performance will be crucial."

The report also briefly mentioned Wang Sheng's Oscar nomination tonight: "Regardless of the Oscar results, Wang Sheng and his Shengying Media have established substantial influence in Hollywood through 'Night at the Museum,' the 'Saw' series, and tonight's premiere of 'Kung Fu Hustle.' He is no longer just an 'outsider,' but a worthy collaborator and competitor."

Variety magazine's report focused more on the film's artistic merit and cultural expression, affirming Stephen Chow's continuation and breakthrough in his auteur style, and praising the universal values ​​of "ordinary people's triumph" and "protecting kindness" contained in the film. Wang Sheng put down the newspaper, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.

The high ground of public opinion in the print media era is still controlled by these traditional giants, but their voices have begun to be challenged by emerging forces.

He picked up the laptop that was placed aside and opened Internet Explorer.

Although the internet speed in 2004 was far slower than in later years, it had already taken shape and become an indispensable battleground for information dissemination and the fermentation of public opinion.

He first logged into IMDb (Internet Movie Database).

On the page for "Kung Fu Hustle," after last night's premiere, the rating has quickly been released, reaching a high of 8.5 out of 10, and the number of users participating in the rating is growing rapidly.

The comments section was even more lively:
"Holy crap! The action scenes in this movie are absolutely insane! More exciting than any superhero movie I've ever seen!"

"Stephen Chow's sense of humor is world-class! I laughed from beginning to end, especially at the landlady role!"

"The visual effects are absolutely stunning! The final Buddha's Palm strike almost made my jaw drop! How were they filmed like that?"

"Quentin shouted 'Awesome!' at the premiere! Haha, he knows his stuff!"

"Without a doubt, one of the best action comedies of the year! Highly recommended!"

"Wang Sheng's productions are always top-notch! Looking forward to his performance at the Oscars!"

The screen was filled with praise, clearly indicating that the first viewers and movie fans gave it extremely high marks.

Wang Sheng then opened one of the most influential film communities in North America today – “Ain't It Cool News”.

This place gathers a large number of seasoned film fans and independent film critics, whose opinions are often more incisive.

Discussion threads about "Kung Fu Hustle" have grown to a considerable length.

Most reviews were positive, praising its imaginative concepts and sophisticated special effects industry support.

"Stephen Chow has created a unique cinematic universe that is both absurd and touching."

"Action director Yuen Woo-ping has once again achieved legendary status! He has seamlessly combined traditional martial arts with modern filming techniques."

"As the producer, Wang Sheng accurately grasped the aesthetic balance between Eastern and Western audiences, and this film has huge commercial potential."

Of course, there are also some dissenting voices, mainly focusing on the acceptance of cultural differences in "nonsensical" humor. They believe that some scenes may seem a bit abrupt to Western audiences, but overall, they cannot overshadow the film's strong style and excellent quality.

The enthusiastic response online, coupled with extensive coverage in print media, indicates a bright start to "Kung Fu Hustle's" North American journey.

Wang Sheng closed the webpage, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window.

The sky over Los Angeles was a clear, deep blue, and the sun shone brightly on every corner of the city.

Last night's successful premiere of "Kung Fu" seemed to be a resounding harbinger for tonight's Oscar battle.

The popularity of media and online buzz reflects market confidence and extends influence.

He picked up his phone and dialed Li Tingting's number.

"Hello, Chairman Wang."

"Domestically, guide the public opinion regarding last night's premiere and today's Oscars. Emphasize that the success of 'Kung Fu Hustle' is a victory for the industrialization of Chinese films and a solid step for Chinese culture to go global. As for the Oscars..."

Wang Sheng paused, then said calmly, "We should emphasize that our main focus is on learning and exchange, and that we should remain humble and low-key, but we should also point out the significance of the nomination itself."

"Understood, Chairman Wang. The press release and guiding principles are ready; arrange it immediately."

"Ah."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Sheng finished the rest of his coffee in one gulp.

(End of this chapter)