The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

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Harbor City, a magazine's interview with a person.

The host prepared some relatively mild and safe questions about movies, creative processes, and how to view changes in the mainland market.

The first half of the interview went smoothly until the last question.

"Stephen Chow, 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons' achieved remarkable box office success and is still considered an important milestone in the history of Chinese cinema. How do you view the impact this film has had on you?"

In the shot, Stephen Chow remained silent for a few seconds.

Then, he raised his head, looked at the camera, and spoke calmly.

"This movie is a bit of a disappointment for me."

The host was visibly taken aback and instinctively asked, "Is it about the creative aspect?"

Stephen Chow shook his head. "It's not a movie."

"It's a person."

The air at the scene visibly froze for a moment.

"They did not keep their promises."

He said this without raising his voice or losing control of his emotions.

But every word seemed to have been deliberately slowed down.

"When we first started working together, they promised a profit-sharing ratio."

"I wasn't the only one who heard it; many people were present."

"We even communicated back and forth via email several times afterward."

"But after the movie was released and the box office figures were tallied, they told me..."

He paused for a moment.

"Verbal promises don't count, and email communications without a signature don't count."

Despite the strict control measures in place, very low gasps of surprise could still be faintly heard.

The host's eyes lit up instantly, with a professional excitement that came from sensing major news. She leaned forward slightly, but tried her best to remain composed in her tone.

"You mean there's a serious dispute over box office revenue sharing for 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons'?"

"Has Huayi failed to pay you your due share as agreed?"

Zhou Xingxing nodded, "It's not as simple as a dispute; the other party probably never intended to give it to us in the first place."

This time, his tone was noticeably colder.

"This is one of the most despicable acts I have ever seen."

Once that statement was made, the direction of the interview was completely out of control.

"In all my years of making movies, I've experienced failures and criticism, but I've rarely encountered anything like this."

"You can say my filming was bad, and we can stop working together."

"But you can't turn your back on us after you've made money."

He looked directly into the camera, his eyes unusually clear.

"This is a breach of trust and an insult to creators."

"If I don't get a response, I will sue."

When the host asked whether the issue could be resolved through communication, Stephen Chow gave a very clear answer.

"I've been waiting for a long time. I've communicated with them privately and in writing."

"But the other party insisted on one point!"

He let out a soft breath.

"It's not mentioned in the contract, so you don't need to pay."

He gave a cold laugh in front of the camera.

"If they continue to turn a deaf ear, then I will have no choice but to resolve this through legal channels."

"I will file a public lawsuit."

"I don't want to do this, but I can't accept being treated like this even more."

Less than an hour after the interview video was released, it was quickly reposted on major platforms, with each headline more sensational than the last.

The marketing accounts didn't embellish the story, because the original words were already impactful enough.

#Stephen Chow Accuses Huayi Brothers of Breach of Trust#

#The Devil's Journey to the West Box Office Revenge Rashomon#

#Verbal promises are not promises#

#Huayi accused of humiliating creators#

#Stephen Chow may sue Huayi Brothers#

Several terms quickly rose to the top of the trending searches, but the faster reaction came not from the general public.

It is the capital market.

When the stock market opened in the afternoon, Huayi Brothers' stock price fell sharply, with a significant increase in selling pressure.

"Stephen Chow's move is even more ruthless than a direct lawsuit." This was the original statement of a financial commentator that day.

Because of Stephen Chow's status and position in the entertainment industry, his words are destined to spread very quickly.

For the general public, in a dispute, they tend to believe in helping the weak.

In this situation, the impact of negative public opinion will have a huge effect on Huayi's reputation and stock price.

This is not something that can be achieved simply by filing a lawsuit in court.

"My God! Stephen Chow! How dare Hua Yi? Does he think Stephen Chow is easy to bully because he's usually quiet?!"

"I've watched 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons' three times! Stephen Chow didn't get the money he deserved, so what's the point of my movie ticket?!"

"We all know how serious Stephen Chow is about movies, from his early days as an extra to becoming the King of Comedy! Huayi Brothers is tarnishing the film industry! I'm so angry I could cry!"

"It's not about money, it's about respect! It's about respect for creators! Huayi's actions are despicable and disgusting!"

"There had been rumors about this in the industry for a while, but no one expected Stephen Chow to be so bold as to expose it directly."

"I had heard before that Huayi's project settlements were very messy, and that they treated people differently based on their status."

That afternoon, when a reporter interviewed a person associated with Huayi.

The other party responded in an extremely standard and extremely cold public relations tone.

"The relevant cooperation matters have been strictly implemented in accordance with the contract terms."

Just one short sentence.

There was no explanation, no emotion, and no response whatsoever to the concepts of "promise," "credit," and "communication."

The reporter followed up with another question: "So, did the verbal agreement that director Stephen Chow mentioned actually exist?"

"If there are any legal issues, it is recommended to resolve them through legal channels."

The call was immediately disconnected.

This response, which lasted less than 30 seconds, was uploaded in its entirety to various platforms within an hour.

There was no editing, nor was any editing necessary.

Because every word is like pouring oil into a fire.

The internet exploded instantly, and the first to erupt were not the fan groups, but a large number of ordinary movie fans and passersby.

"Good grief, you think you can just brush off Stephen Chow with a few words like 'contract terms'?"

"So this is Huayi's attitude? They make their money and then play dead?"

"If you don't keep your promises, who will dare to cooperate with you in the future?"

"Isn't this just being unreasonable?"

The mood quickly shifted from "discussion" to "condemnation".

Especially after the interview video was repeatedly compared and circulated, Hua Yi's cold response seemed particularly jarring.

On one side, Stephen Chow was suppressing his emotions in front of the camera, carefully choosing his words to talk about "trust".

On the other hand, there was a cold, emotionless statement: "It has been carried out in accordance with the contract terms."

Soon, the topic escalated.

#Huayi responds that verbal promises are not valid#

#Contract terms used as a shield#

#Do creators still have dignity?#

Many industry professionals have also begun to anonymously participate.

One screenwriter wrote in a lengthy post: "If even Stephen Chow can be dismissed with a single contract clause, then what are the rest of us?"

One director directly shared the interview video with only two words: "Disheartening."

As one person aptly pointed out, "This is not a legal issue, it's a matter of trust."

"A company that doesn't keep its promises is essentially telling everyone, 'Don't trust me.'"

A few days ago, the first episode of Running Man achieved record-breaking results, causing Huayi's stock price to soar to nearly 90 yuan.

Those who received the shares from the Wang brothers were still basking in a sea of ​​joy.

Hello Huayi! Hello Mr. Wang! Your choice to take over was so clear!

However, the avalanche happened in an instant.

Before the market opened the next morning, Huayi's stock price had already stopped at 72 yuan.

After Stephen Chow's statement yesterday, the stock market crashed to its daily limit within an hour of opening in the afternoon.

About half an hour after the market opened on the second day, Huayi's stock price did not fluctuate much.

The shareholders who still hold their positions are continuing to comfort themselves.

"Stephen Chow only said he would sue, he hasn't actually sued yet."

"The emotions will pass in a few days."

"With Running Man being so popular, Huayi Brothers' fundamentals are still intact; the production team and artists are still there."

"It's no big deal!"

However, suddenly, it was as if someone had silently removed a piece of the foundation from the betting odds.

The candlestick chart shows a sharp decline.

72.0→ 71.2

71.2→ 70.6

The trading volume wasn't large, but there was no follow-up buying, which is the most fatal signal.

An experienced stock market investor stared at the screen and muttered under his breath, "It's over."

The next second, 70 was penetrated.

The stock trading group was in an uproar.

"It's broken 70!"

"Is anyone answering?"

"Another call? Stop! Something's wrong! Run!"

"Can I run it with a speed of 69.5?"

"Why are you running? Wait a little longer!"

"Waiting for what? Waiting for Stephen Chow's lawsuit?"

One sentence silenced the group chat for three seconds.

Then, sell orders began to appear in large numbers on the trading software.

69.8

69.6

69.2

Book lovers are hotly debating: What exactly happened? Join the discussion!

Retail investors are finally starting to wake up!

In the dressing room of a beauty salon in the capital, Li Chen watched helplessly as the K-line fell below 70.

He stared at the number for two seconds, his brows slowly furrowing.

"Is this negative news really that impactful?"

"It's probably just a temporary emotional fluctuation."

When he said this, his tone carried a hint of trying to convince himself.

The agent stood aside, not answering immediately.

The makeup brush swept lightly across his face, but the movement noticeably slowed down.

Huang Xiaoming received the call in his car; the voice on the other end of the line was very low.

"Ming-ge, you've broken through level 70."

Outside the car window was the traffic of Beijing's morning rush hour, with red lights lined up one after another.

He leaned back in his chair and remained silent for a long time.

"Could we hang half of it first?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

"Ming-ge, liquidity isn't very good right now."

Huang Xiaoming closed his eyes, and he suddenly remembered Wang Zhonglei's cheerful words from back then.

"Xiao Ming, this is an internal benefit; not everyone gets it."

Looking back now, what the hell was that benefit?

They're looking for someone to take over!

Feng Xiaogang sat in his study, smoking one cigarette after another.

The market data software was running, and the numbers on it kept updating.

He had long known in his heart that Huayi's actions were bound to cause trouble sooner or later.

But what really bothered him was that even though he knew the truth, he still stepped into the situation.

Fan Binbin saw yesterday that it was inevitable for the price to fall below 70.

Seeing that it had indeed broken down, she felt calm, as she had actually had a premonition all along.

The Wang brothers were too hasty; they were eager to distribute shares, eager to form a bond, and eager to "share the spoils equally."

That's not like sharing the benefits.

She did consider refusing, but when the opportunity presented itself, she underestimated her ability to resist temptation.

"I just hope this downturn ends here."

The attitude of major financial companies towards Huayi has completely changed.

"Running Man can't save Huayi; its credibility is questionable, and its entire model has collapsed."

"They ride the wave of trending topics and hype up the market value to boost their valuation. If the market is doing well, they can maintain this for a while."

"Now that the wall has fallen, someone will come out and give it a push."

"70 is just the first hurdle."

Meanwhile, in Huayi's shareholder meeting room, the lights were glaringly bright.

The long table was filled with people, but there was a subtle sense of restlessness and disunity among them.

Some people were talking in hushed tones, some were frequently checking the market information on their phones, and some simply leaned back in their chairs with their arms crossed, looking indifferent.

The first thing that gets noticed isn't who came, but who didn't.

Where is the person with the ink marks?

Someone asked in a low voice, and the conference room fell silent for a moment.

Wang Zhongjun sat in the main seat, his expression calm, as if he had anticipated this problem.

He tapped the table lightly, and only spoke slowly after his gaze had returned to him.

"Before the meeting begins, I'd like to clarify one thing."

His voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"I have personally repurchased the shares held by Mohen through an off-exchange transaction at a price of 70 yuan."

"All relevant procedures have been completed, both legally and in terms of equity structure."

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"Mohen is no longer a shareholder of Huayi."

An uncontrollable commotion finally broke out in the conference room.

Some people looked up, some frowned, and some people's expressions changed instantly.

70? You should know that just a few weeks ago, Huayi's stock price was hovering around 80, and even surged to nearly 90 a few days ago.

What was Mohen thinking?

"However," Wang Zhongjun raised his hand to signal for silence, "I also want to emphasize one point."

"Changes in shareholding do not signify the termination of cooperation."

"Huayi and Mohen still cooperate at the project level, and the success of Running Man has already proven everything."

Therefore, please do not overinterpret this.

He spoke with certainty, as if everything was under his control.

The Alibaba representative, sitting on the other side of the conference table, gently pushed up his glasses, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The representative from Tencent didn't even bother to manage his facial expressions, leaning back in his chair as if listening to a report that had nothing to do with him.

Wang Zhonglei took over the conversation, explaining in detail the next course of action.

"We believe that this round of decline is more caused by a combination of market sentiment and external noise."

"Our core business is fine, our cash flow is fine, and our project pipeline is fine."

"A series of positive news will be released to stabilize market expectations."

He spoke very seriously and with great effort.

However, people from both Alibaba and Tencent almost simultaneously came to the same conclusion about this statement.

This is the standard crisis communication template; every company that has been educated by the market will say this.

For them, Huayi's investment was never intended to generate this paper profit.

What they want is an entry point, a channel to get involved in the film and television industry.

Stock price fluctuations are just numbers and don't really matter.

Moreover, Shen Mo's people had already given them a private warning beforehand.

For capital of their caliber, a gentle reminder is enough.

Not selling or reducing holdings does not mean doing nothing.

I can easily short the market and hedge my position, which won't hurt our relationship or prevent me from making money.

As for Huayi? What does it have to do with me?

As the meeting drew to a close, Wang Zhongjun delivered a concluding speech, his tone remaining confident.

"Short-term fluctuations are inevitable, but in the long run, Huayi still possesses strong industry competitiveness."

"We urge all shareholders to maintain their confidence in the company."

Sparse applause broke out.

There are no "insiders" at the capital table.

Like Shen Mo, there were quite a few people who saw through, or rather, knew about, Huayi's potential problems.

Some people chose to continue the game of musical chairs, while others chose to leave early.

However, Alibaba and Tencent are not the only ones actually shorting the market; there are other institutions as well.

This includes Shen Mo, of course.

However, before the market had fully digested the previous day's public sentiment, several brokerage research reports were released almost simultaneously.

The titles were all calm, but the wording was all sharp.

[Huayi: Fundamentals and market capitalization show a significant divergence; investment rating downgraded]

[Concept-driven approaches are unsustainable; caution is advised.]

[Adjusting Huayi's rating to "Neutral to Sell"]

This time, the reason for the downgrade is not just the "profit-sharing dispute with Stephen Chow".

The research report was written very frankly and incisively.

Huayi's current market value is significantly inflated. Its rise over the past year has been primarily driven by speculation in concept stocks rather than improvements in its core business.

The cards that were repeatedly mentioned were those that had once supported the stock price.

Investments in mobile game concept stocks have been made for several months, but so far no product with market appeal has been launched, and revenue is far below expectations.

The film-themed town is still in the planning and land acquisition stage, with large capital requirements and long return cycles, making it difficult to realize performance in the short term.

Although the first episode of Running Man was a huge hit, a research report clearly pointed out that the core production and methodology of the program are controlled by Mohen, and since Mohen has withdrawn from Huayi's shareholders, the stability of future cooperation is questionable.

……

The news caused an uproar in the market.

Many investors are aware of the analysis above, but no one wants to be the one to burst the bubble.

But the news that followed was incredibly surprising.

Exiting the ink trace?

"When did you cancel your reservation?"

Why are you canceling?

"Who holds this 5% stake now?"

Various speculations spread wildly in investment groups, forums, and private phone calls.

Just hours after market sentiment rapidly escalated, Mohen Asset Management released an announcement on its official website.

[Announcement Regarding the Transfer of Huayi Shares Held by Mohen Asset Management]

The content is equally brief and concise.

All equity transfer procedures have been completed. The transfer method is repurchase by the original shareholders, the Wang brothers, at a price of 70 yuan per share.

The market fell silent immediately upon the announcement.

Buyback? 70?

It's worth noting that Huayi's stock price had previously been close to 90, and there were even market expectations that it would hit 100.

The ink stains actually disappeared.

"Not selling at 90, but at 70? Are you crazy?"

"The concept hasn't even been fully explained yet, what's the rush?"

Some people felt a chill down their spine.

"Does he know something?"

"Otherwise, why would he be willing to pay such a price?"

Should we call him foolish or wise?

At almost the same time, Huayi also quickly followed up with an announcement.

The equity transfer was confirmed as a normal adjustment to the shareholder structure, and it was emphasized that the business cooperation between Huayi and Mohen would not be affected.

The announcement was written flawlessly.

But the market no longer buys into that.

Moreover, the bubble in concept stocks should have burst long ago.

The real chain reaction has only just begun.