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

As the opening film of the year for Mohen Pictures, "Detective Chinatown" was scheduled for release on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

To ignite the movie-watching frenzy during the Spring Festival, the publicity team launched a pre-release marketing campaign a month before the film's release.

It started with a 90-second trailer that was released on various platforms, featuring exotic street scenes, bizarre crimes, and Wang Baoqiang's exaggerated comedic expressions, intertwined with Liu Haoran's sharp reasoning.

Coupled with the slogan "On the first day of the Lunar New Year, you'll laugh until you shake, and you'll lose your hair if you guess correctly," it quickly sparked curiosity across the internet.

"Baoqiang's facial expressions are as unrestrained as ever! They're hilarious, hahaha!"

"A strange accent and a stutterer—these two main characters are interesting."

"Where did Mohen find this treasure? Liu Haoran's looks, lines, and acting are all quite good."

"Is this little girl Jin Qinqin from 'A Little Reunion'? She's grown up a bit, so pretty, I love that smile."

"His name is Liu Haocun, right? He's such a pure and innocent girl. Wearing this school uniform reminds me of Qinqin from a few years ago."

Following this, the official team released a set of visually striking character posters.

Each lead actor holds a key prop, with fragmented clues hidden behind them.

Nine fragments, one truth. The real culprit lies within. #DetectiveChinatownCityCatchTheKiller#

A puzzle-solving extravaganza that spanned the entire internet was thus ignited.

"The gear pattern in the background of the third poster featuring Liu Haoran partially matches the subtle markings on the Thai baht in the seventh poster featuring Wang Baoqiang!"

"In the fifth poster of Chen He, there is a candy wrapper in his hand, and in the reflection of the candy wrapper, there seems to be the shadow of a woman."

"The Photoshop expert is dead! The ink-stained articulator deserves a bonus! But is this jigsaw puzzle even for humans? My eyes almost went blind just to find three connections! But... it's so much fun!"

"My wild guess is that the real culprit is Wang Baoqiang!"

"It couldn't possibly be our adorable little sister Haocun, could it!"

At the same time, Mohen also partnered with several online social platforms to launch the "Detective Chinatown Challenge" event.

Users are encouraged to upload their daily reasoning videos or scripts, as well as videos of reasoning and analysis of the true culprit in the poster. Some of these videos will be randomly selected and rewarded after the movie's release.

A content creator on Bilibili posted a video titled "Frame-by-Frame Analysis of Ten Terrifying Details in Posters," which quickly went viral, garnering over a million views. The comments section was filled with phrases like "So that's how it is!", "The class representative is awesome!", and "Mohen, give this genius a job offer!"

In several core city business districts, Mohen also set up "Detective Chinatown Escape Room Pop-up Stores" that resemble movie scenes, where visitors can enter for a limited time to experience solving puzzles.

Players who successfully solved the puzzle within the time limit excitedly held up their limited-edition Detective Chinatown ID set, Q-version character badges, and arrogant T-shirts printed with "I have solved the case," and took photos in front of the specially arranged backdrop.

"Challenge successful! Got a preview screening ticket! The puzzle design in Ink Trace's escape room is really something else, quite fun!"

Each successful challenge check-in post, accompanied by a smug smile and a precious ticket stub, continuously encourages more people to participate, successfully driving online traffic to offline events.

Two weeks before the release, Mohen organized dozens of advance screenings, covering film critics, media, industry partners, and core fans.

Starting that evening, "limited spoilers" and the first wave of genuine word-of-mouth on social media began to quietly ferment, and at an astonishing speed, they converged into a powerful undercurrent.

"Detective Chinatown is not a simple splicing of 'comedy scenes + crime-solving scenes,' but rather it makes 'humor' itself a part of driving the investigation, portraying the characters, and even misleading the audience."

"What's most remarkable is that the film delivers more than one high-density plot twist in the last thirty minutes, yet the logical chain remains self-consistent and closed, which is almost a luxury for a commercial comedy."

"The contrast between the outwardly eccentric uncle and the inwardly meticulous genius nephew is a striking character contrast; the switching between the bustling streets of Bangkok and the cold crime scene creates an environmental contrast; the intricate time-manipulation hidden behind the nonsensical chase scenes creates a contrast in narrative rhythm."

"The film's humor doesn't come from simply piling up jokes, but rather from the characters' misplaced identities and the contradictions in the situations, making it much more sophisticated. Without a doubt, this will be the most ingenious film of this year's Spring Festival season, bar none."

Besides professional reviews, many fans who were lucky enough to win the advance screening also expressed their feelings.

"The audience laughed more times than I did in all the comedies I've seen this year combined."

"My mom guessed the killer wrong, my dad guessed right but his reasoning was completely wrong."

"There's a hidden surprise at the end, and it's packed with information!"

"Take my advice, you absolutely have to watch this on Chinese New Year's Day, otherwise you'll fall behind in conversations during the holiday!"

"This is the only movie that made me experience multiple emotions simultaneously while watching the scenery: laughter, curiosity, tension, contemplation, and sudden realization."

In the final week before the film's release, several popular variety shows that the lead actors had previously recorded were also released online.

With its widespread rollout across subways, buses, and buildings, "Detective Chinatown" became one of the most talked-about movies before the Lunar New Year.

Among the several films released during the Spring Festival, Jackie Chan's "Dragon Blade" and Chow Yun-fat's "From Vegas to Macau II" are considered the biggest threats.

Secondly, there's "Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal." To promote the film, Chen Kun and Li Binbin even kissed openly at the premiere, which certainly made a splash.

Then there's America's Big Hero 6, a Disney animated blockbuster that's also highly anticipated.

"Wolf Totem," a Sino-French co-production starring Feng Shaofeng and Dou Xiao, garnered significant attention from the very beginning.

As for the Hong Kong film "Triumph in the Skies," it is adapted from a TV series of the same name from more than ten years ago. Although a large number of Hong Kong stars participated, the outdated plot meant that moviegoers did not have high expectations.

In addition, the two variety show movies, "Where Are We Going, Dad? 2" and "Dad's Holiday," are clashing, and there is currently a lot of negative public opinion about the commercialization of variety show movies, so there is nothing to worry about.

The debate on Weibo's hashtag #WhichSpringFestivalMovieDoYouPICK# has been diverse and intense.

"I feel that Jackie Chan's films in recent years aren't as good as his earlier ones, but I'll still go see them because they're still considered high-quality productions in the Chinese film industry!"

"Putting history aside, Dragon Blade is still a highly watchable film."

"If you're going to make it up, then make it up. Why bring up a true story? Do you think it's just a matter of flattery that led to a massacre from the New Territories to Kowloon?"

"The plot may be cliché, but I just like movies like God of Gamblers. I think they're awesome, so I'll just watch them for fun."

"Wang Jing, as the undisputed 'King of Bad Movies,' definitely won't be any fun in 'From Vegas to Macau II.'"

"The marketing for 'Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal' is a bit over the top, but for the visuals and special effects, I'm still planning to give it a try!"

"I've read the novel 'Wolf Totem,' and I've been following the movie for a long time. The cast of Feng Shaofeng and Dou Xiao is also reliable. I want to see a pack of wolves on the grasslands and experience a different kind of Spring Festival atmosphere."

"If I'm with kids, Big Hero 6 will definitely be my first choice!"

"Let's go with 'Detective Chinatown'. The trailer has both excitement and mystery, catering to the different tastes of the whole family. That's it!"

"To have a happier Lunar New Year, I've decided to go see 'Detective Chinatown'!"

At the same time, pre-release promotional materials were also scattered across the entire internet.

More Than Just Laughter: Unveiling How "Detective Chinatown" Uses High-Density Twists and Turns to "Trick" the Audience

"A Hit Before Release! 'Detective Chinatown' Receives Explosive Advance Reviews, Potentially Becoming the Dark Horse of the Spring Festival Film Season."

Laughing until you slap your thigh, guessing until you lose your hair: Ink-stained <Detective Chinatown> defines a new way to play "family-friendly suspense".

Dare to take the challenge on Chinese New Year's Day? A double preview of "humor" and "mystery" from <Detective Chinatown>.

Is "Detective Chinatown" the brains of the Lunar New Year film season? Previews praise its "meticulous plot and outstanding comedic effect."

Finally, the Spring Festival arrived, and amidst much anticipation, the film was officially released.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, just after midnight, the real-time box office data was immediately sent to Shen Mo.

"Dragon Blade," starring Jackie Chan, grossed 1.16 million yuan with a 24.58% screening rate, breaking 100 million yuan on its opening day and firmly holding the top spot.

With 16.25% of screenings, "Detective Chinatown" grossed 8200 million yuan, ranking second.

This number did not surprise Shen Mo. Li Yitong stood beside him, looking at the string of numbers, and let out a soft breath.

"The start wasn't bad."

Following closely behind was "From Vegas to Macau II," which had a 14.26% screening rate and grossed 63 million.

This is enough to prove that Chow Yun-fat's box office appeal is still strong.

However, what truly caused a murmur of surprise within the industry was "Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal".

Despite having a high screening share of 15.33%, it only grossed 5262 million yuan at the box office, with a dismal average number of viewers per screening.

That eye-catching premiere featuring the lead actors' passionate kiss seemed to serve as a perfect ironic commentary.

"Marketing gimmicks can't beat the film itself in the end," a theater manager lamented in a private group chat.

"The audience voted with their feet, and it seems that this is the first one to be eliminated."

基因相似性极高的《爸爸去哪儿2》和《爸爸的假期》，分别以10.37%和7.82%的排片率获得3527万、1850万票房。

It's far less than the 9200 million viewers on the first day of the first season of "Where Are We Going, Dad?" last year.

It's not even as good as the Running Man movie, which just finished its run on January 30th. This movie, which Blueberry TV filmed in a few days to join the fun, earned 79 million yuan at the box office on its opening day.

Currently, variety show movies, under the shadow of public opinion that they are "making money" and the aesthetic fatigue of the audience, are being met with the most direct expression of aversion from the market.

Knowing they might be criticized, Inkhen Pictures didn't take the lead in producing the Running Man movie.

I was just a small investor, got a small share, and made a little money.

Blueberry Terrace carries the bad reputation; they're like lice that have been tickled many times over.

On the contrary, "Wolf Totem," which only had an 8% screening rate, actually achieved a box office of 3300 million yuan on its opening day, with its average attendance per screening surpassing the previous films, quietly revealing its strength.

"Just came from 'Detective Chinatown'! The jokes were so frequent, Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran's banter was just perfect for me!"

"The final plot twist made me scream, which startled my mom!"

"This film has distinct comedic elements, but the suspense is also very well done, so you can enjoy it without worry."

"I wonder how many people went in expecting a cheesy comedy like I did... but surprisingly, it was quite a pleasant surprise! It wasn't bad at all!!!"

"It's funny enough, but the reasoning part was a bit difficult for me to understand; it took a few twists and turns. Maybe I expected a pure comedy. But overall, it's worth the ticket price."

"The multiple plot twists at the end were truly thrilling, and the series of foreshadowing elements left viewers wanting more."

"I did a search on Zhihu by chance, and surprisingly there wasn't a single negative review."

"Out of curiosity, I went to the cinema to watch it, but you have to watch this movie at least three times, otherwise you won't really understand 'Detective Chinatown'."

"‘Should villains laugh like that!’ My goodness, is this really the Jin Qinqin I know? Haocun, my darling, you acted so well, your laugh scared Mommy!"

"Yes, I think it's normal that Baoqiang and Haoran acted well, but I didn't expect Liu Haocun's little girl to give me such a wonderful surprise."

"The girl in the first half of the show, dressed in a school uniform, was youthful, beautiful, and sunny. She made me feel healed, but I didn't expect her to give me such a big twist later on. Her smile actually made me feel scared."

……

In the absence of external interference, box office revenue generally determines the number of screenings.

The managers of major cinema chains made emergency adjustments early the next morning.

"Dragon Blade" remained unchanged, but "Detective Chinatown" was moved to the same level, reaching 24%.

"From Vegas to Macau II" remains unchanged, while "Wolf Totem" has been adjusted to 14%, nearly doubling in value.

Other films saw corresponding price reductions.

The following day, the box office for "Dragon Blade" rose slightly to 1.2 million.

However, "Detective Chinatown" has overtaken the competition, earning 1.3 million yuan, nearly double the opening day's figure, and has surged to the top of the daily box office chart.

On the third day, "Detective Chinatown" made another strong showing, earning 1.5 million yuan, surpassing "Dragon Blade" to become the top-grossing film during the Spring Festival season.

……

A few days after its release, Liu Haocun became the most talked-about character in the film.

Liu Haocun's two perfectly timed laughs are decisive!

Qin Feng sought out Si Nuo to investigate the case. Si Nuo went from being timid and hesitant when she opened the door to gradually becoming cheerful and enthusiastic with Qin Feng.

Upon first meeting her, the young girl perfectly captured the closed-off yet innocent mind of the orphan Si Nuo.

"Can you stand a piece of paper up on the table?"

This revealed a clean and bright smile to her. This girl with a sweet smile and crescent-shaped eyes brought a touch of tranquility to the noisy film.

Sinuo's clean smile and her final farewell in the hospital evoked some sympathy from the audience for this orphan girl's background.

It reminds one of her role as Jin Qinqin in "A Little Reunion," a character who was innocent, cute, pure, and pitiful.

However, as the plot unfolds, new twists and turns gradually emerge from the torn diary.

The young girl, Si Nuo, unexpectedly became the ultimate boss, meticulously planning this murder case with flawless precision.

The eerie smile at the end of the film caused a stir among the audience. The smile was chilling and could even be compared to that in "Orphan".

This smile successfully reversed the silence that followed the solving of the case, turning the gentle breeze of first meeting the girl into a chilling atmosphere.

Liu Haocun, on the other hand, perfectly displayed two completely different kinds of laughter, which were truly awe-inspiring!

"The blogger's writing is excellent, and Liu Haocun's acting is superb!"

"Liu Haocun scared me, seriously! I'll eat it if you're lying!"

"That one eerie smile made me remember Liu Haocun's name instantly. Amazing!"

"That smile made me feel like she was the protagonist of the movie. The perfect crime that Qin Feng had always wanted to commit was actually achieved by her."

"To be honest, the storylines of the two male leads in 'Detective Chinatown' were alright, but Si Nuo's performance was truly the deciding factor! Without her, the movie would just be pure comedy!"

"+1, Liu Haoran and Wang Baoqiang's presence throughout the more than one hour of the film is not as strong as Liu Haocun's eerie smile in the last few seconds."

"Where did Mohen find these treasures... I haven't even gotten over the joy that Mengyan brought me on Running Man, and now I've fallen for Haocun!"

……

Tian Xiwei made a direct call to Liu Haocun's phone.

"Cunzi, you're amazing!"

"Your posts have flooded my WeChat Moments!"

"They all both love and fear you!"

"You wouldn't laugh like that when you're secretly talking about me behind my back, would you?"

Before Tian Xiwei's loud and boisterous phone call had even ended, the [Ink Trace Five Beauties] WeChat group had already exploded with excitement.

Bai Lu directly posted the GIF of Liu Hao's chilling smile from the movie in the group chat.

Bai Lu:

[Bai Lu: @Liu Haocuncunzi!!! Your smile gave me nightmares last night!]

[Bai Lu: My mom asked me, "Is this the well-behaved little girl you were talking about? How come she plays a villain so convincingly!"]

Meng Ziyi followed suit, sending a series of explosion and crying emojis.

[Meng Ziyi: Ahhhhh! I just came out of the movie with my parents! Cunzi! From now on, when I see you sweetly calling me Sister Ziyi, my heart will tremble! The contrast in your role is too big! [kneeling]]

[Meng Ziyi: The box office is amazing! Congratulations, Cunzi! You're treating next time we meet!]

Even Wang Churan, who is usually quiet and mostly lurks in the group, popped up.

[Wang Churan: Hahaha, you've shown your true colors! Cunzi, you're all cunning and deceitful, I saw through you a long time ago, hmph!]

Li Qin simply posted a comment on Weibo.

[Back in "Brotherhood of Blades," I had to mentor Cun Cun, but now his acting is phenomenal, shining brightly on the big screen! That's wonderful! Keep it up, Cun Cun, I'm truly happy for you! Keep pushing forward!]

The accompanying photo was a group photo from the previous "Brotherhood of Blades" shoot, which was both heartwarming and powerful, prompting Li Lin's fans to shower him with praise.

Liu Shishi and her boyfriend had just walked out of the movie theater when she recalled the little girl who had followed Shen Mo and Li Yitong closely a few months ago, and then the scenes from the movie she had just watched came to mind.

I can't help but feel a surge of emotion; this little girl has limitless potential.

Shen Mo didn't say anything more, only sending Liu Haocun a message: "Good luck!"

Then, in a small group chat among the company's senior executives, he gave Yang Tianzhen a few instructions.

"Haocun's performance this time exceeded expectations, and the market feedback was excellent."

"For subsequent interviews and offers of high-quality scripts, please keep a close eye on them, prioritizing reputation and the quality of the work. This will solidify your reputation as a talented actor."

"But be careful with the amount; don't take on too many, or it will affect her studies. At this stage, the main focus should be on getting into university."

Faced with this barrage of messages, Liu Haocun initially only sent shy and grateful emojis in the group chat. But after being tagged so much, he finally sent a few voice messages in a low voice.

"Thank you, sisters!"

"Don't be afraid of me, everyone. I'm not usually like that...you all know that!"

"I'm currently doing promotional tours with director Chen Sicheng and the others. When I return to Beijing, I'll definitely treat everyone to a meal!"

Her tone was still soft, tinged with a bewildered gratitude, a stark contrast to the rather subversive image she portrayed on screen.

This sparked another round of teasing in the group, with comments like "rub the little one" and "the contrast is so cute, it's life-saving."

On the other hand, Zhou Ye, the "natural rival," is getting angrier the more he looks at it.

Hmph! So what if I joined the company a little earlier and got to know Brother Mo a bit better?

When I finish my acting lessons and have scripts to act in, I'll definitely act better than you!

Even when playing a villain, he's ten times worse than you!