I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

Chapter 123 Summer Film Marketing Battle

Less than an hour after the trailer was released, "My Love from the Star" occupied four spots on Weibo's trending topics list.

#My Love from the Star Final Trailer#

#JiangChenIDontWantToLeaveYou#

#Embrace in the Snow at Jingtian#

#Is the spring water delicious?#

The fans were celebrating like it was Chinese New Year, flooding QQ groups and online forums with screenshots, GIFs, and screams.

"Time stood still! That moment when he flew up and hugged her! That kiss! I died! I died! I died!"

"Jiang Chen's eyes killed me! Four hundred years of loneliness, he conveyed it all with just one look!"

"Jing Tian's last stolen kiss was so sweet and natural, I'm totally shipping them!"

"Wait, didn't anyone notice the springs in Jinan? That scene was so beautiful it made me cry! I want to travel to Jinan!"

"People from Shandong say that Baotu Spring water is indeed delicious, but it's not as mystical as he makes it out to be —"

"You're not an alien, what do you know!"

'

A tech-savvy netizen analyzed the trailer frame by frame and wrote a long Weibo post, covering everything from composition and color tone to music and performance details, totaling over 3,000 words; the post ended with the line: "If this show flops, I'll eat my monitor."

The comments below were all the same: "Screenshot taken, waiting for the broadcast."

There are also those who are not optimistic, and haters are everywhere.

A film critic posted on Weibo: "Domestic idol dramas all follow the same formula; no matter how well the trailers are edited, it's useless. Jiang Chen's acting is alright, but Jing Tian? Haha."

The comment section was immediately flooded with oranges.

"If you're so good, then you do it!"

"Your steaming and cooking process doesn't even have a trailer edited."

"Waiting to be proven wrong."

The film critic didn't reply, but liked a comment that said, "We'll see how he tries to cover it up then."

Several entertainment industry prophecy accounts started stirring up trouble, posting various industry predictions about the show's ratings. Some said it would break 2, some said it would break 3, and some even said, "If this show doesn't become a hit, I'll change my name backwards."

The replies below were varied and diverse.

"Stop nursing! Stop nursing! If you die from nursing, I'll hold you accountable!"

"Jiang Chen doesn't need milk; he himself is the milk cow."

Even the official Weibo account of the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism joined in the fun, reposting a screenshot of Baotu Spring from the trailer: "Welcome everyone to Jinan, drink the same spring water, and check in at the same attractions. Friendly reminder: The spring water is good, but don't wait four hundred years like the male lead."

The comments section erupted in laughter: "Official Weibo account, you really know how to market!"

"Jiang Chen is from Jinan, this hometown promotion is perfect."

"I've already bought my ticket to Jinan. I'll go as soon as the show finishes airing."

Jiang Chen's many friends in the industry also shared the post.

Yang Mi immediately posted a Weibo post with a screenshot of Jiang Chen's profile from the trailer, accompanied by a simple and direct caption.

"Professor Jiang, we'll be waiting for you on July 15th. [heart emoji]"

The fans immediately flooded the comments section.

"We'll definitely watch Tu Su's dramas!"

"Honey, are you two really dating?"

When will it be officially announced?

"Don't ask anymore, upstairs. If you do, we're friends."

"Do friends send heart emojis?"

"Can't friends send heart emojis?"

"Yes, but Mimi's kindness is clearly not that of an ordinary friend."

Fans started digging up old clips of Yang Mi mentioning Jiang Chen in previous interviews, and pieced them together into a video titled "108 Moments Yang Mi Talks About Jiang Chen".

The comments section erupted in laughter: "To turn honey into oranges, all you need is Jiang Chen."

"Honey, tone it down. The whole world knows you like him."

"Upstairs, the whole world knows, except for them."

The cast of Gu Jian Qi Tan also made a collective appearance.

Ma Tianyu reposted: "From Baili Tusu to Professor Jiang, Jiang Chen, you've made quite a leap! Let's follow this on July 15th!"

Chen Weiting reposted: "I must support my junior's new drama. Professor Jiang, wait for me!"

Mao Xiaotong's repost was the most subtle, containing only one word: "Wait."

However, the accompanying image is a still from the trailer featuring her, standing in a corner with a complex expression.

The comment section immediately understood: "I understand the second female lead's hardships."

"Mao Mao, don't wait anymore. Professor Jiang belongs to Jing Yiren."

'

Liu Shishi also posted it.

Her Weibo account is usually quiet, only updating once every two weeks or so. Her fans have almost turned her account into a confessional.

But today she suddenly appeared, reposted the trailer, and captioned it: "Looking forward to it."

The fans were flattered.

"Shishi actually updated her blog!"

"Is it because of Jiang Chen? Are they going to collaborate on a movie?"

"Shishi, you should come out and do more work!"

When Cai Yinong saw this Weibo post, she was drinking Kung Fu tea in her office.

I'm furious.

She made a phone call right away, "Shishi, please delete that Weibo post."

Liu Shishi's voice was soft, but her tone was anything but: "I won't delete it."

"Who are you? Tangren's top female star. What will people think if you go and endorse Jiang Chen?"

"He recommended a movie actress to me, so I posted about it on Weibo for him. What's wrong with that?"

"You think he's not eye-catching enough?"

"Then please don't let me take that movie."

Cai Yinong was speechless.

Even her own capricious eldest sister wasn't the most infuriating thing; it was just a Weibo post.

What's most infuriating is that kid Lin Gengxin. He's so happy about the lawsuit, jumping around and posting three Weibo posts a day that are subtly criticizing her.

She used to boast that she would blacklist him, but Jiang Chen ended up casting Lin Gengxin as the second male lead and promoting him with him.

Lin Gengxin's face appears everywhere in posters and trailers.

This isn't just slapping her in the face, it's grinding her into the ground.

And that note—

How dare you, a son of a concubine, deceive me?

Tang Yan also reposted the trailer, adding a starry-eyed emoji and writing, "So handsome! I'm definitely watching it on July 15th!"

After seeing this, Jiang Chen sent her a WeChat message: "Tangtang, thanks."

Tang Yan replied instantly: "Don't mention it, we're like family, it's only right."

"How could that be?"

"I'm helping you, and I'm also helping Mimi."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Tang Yan's voice carried a hint of slyness, "that heart she sent was too blatant, I have to help her divert attention. Otherwise, if the whole world knows she likes you, she'll lose face."

"You're so thoughtful."

"Of course, I'm Mimi's best friend, and her man is mine—"

She paused for a long time before sending two words.

"friend."

"But seriously, when will that drama you and Shishi star in air? I want to watch it too."

"It hasn't been filmed yet."

"Then hurry up and film it, I'm waiting to ship this couple."

Jiang Chen was shocked. "You're shipping me and Shishi?"

"Yeah, Mimi always brags in front of me, I'm going to drive her crazy."

Jiang Chen sent a string of ellipses.

The strategist, Sugar, added: "Don't tell her, or she'll scratch me again."

"I took a screenshot of what you said."

"Go ahead and take the screenshots. I have even more unflattering photos of her on my phone. We might as well both die together."

Jiang Chen was convinced; these women were not to be trifled with.

As June draws to a close, the summer drama promotion battle has officially begun.

All TV stations, production companies, and artist teams are going all out.

It's everywhere – on Weibo, Baidu Tieba, forums, and TV trailers.

Hunan TV has gone all out this time.

The two dramas bombarded viewers one after the other.

"Everyday Happiness" and "The Legend of Chasing Fish" are a mythological comedy and an ancient mythological drama, respectively. Both have appealing themes and strong casts.

Chen Haomin, Mu Tingting, Tan Yaowen, and Chen Zihan are all familiar faces to the audience.

Zhao Liying has already gained popularity from "Legend of Lu Zhen", and Guan Zhibin is also a handsome man in period dramas.

Hunan TV's promotional methods have always been ruthless.

The three popular variety shows, "Happy Camp," "Day Day Up," and "Variety Big Show," took turns airing.

Promotional materials for both dramas were repeatedly played on satellite TV during prime time, and the trending topics on Weibo continued to generate buzz, with the hashtags #EverydayHappy# and #LegendofChasingFish# dominating the top of the list for several days in a row.

Fans and casual observers alike flooded the topic page with comments.

"Chen Haomin still has that Ji Gong vibe."

"Zhao Liying is so talented!"

"The dramas on Hunan TV during the summer season are never bad."

There's also "The Patriot Yue Fei," featuring an all-star cast including Huang Xiaoming, Luo Jialiang, Ruby Lin, Wu Xiubo, and Liu Shishi—a truly top-notch production.

It will premiere on July 4th on four major satellite TV channels: Anhui, Shandong, Tianjin, and Zhejiang, with unprecedented promotional efforts.

Capital Airlines painted a plane with the theme "Loyalty to Yue Fei," and Han Hong sang the theme song. The trailer was launched simultaneously on new media platforms, sparking a nationwide debate on whether to use the phrase "loyalty to the country" or "devotion to the country."

Liu Shishi's fans have always been very active, and although Cai Yinong is tired lately, she hasn't missed a single day of promotion.

The trailer for "The Patriot Yue Fei" is grand and magnificent, depicting battlefield battles and patriotic fervor that gets viewers' adrenaline pumping.

Many history buffs and military enthusiasts have also started to pay attention, and the forum has been filled with posts.

There are also two CCTV dramas that don't rely on viewership ratings, but they win because of the platform's authority and reach.

"The Legend of Mulan" and "Painted Skin: The Resurrection".

A historical legend, a period fantasy.

CCTV's publicity methods are relatively traditional, mainly relying on its own prime-time previews, news channel reports, and main...

Advertorials for streaming media.

Phrases like "CCTV-1's summer blockbuster," "three years in the making," and "an epic production" frequently appear in various reports.

As the TV series version of the movie "Painted Skin 2", "Painted Skin: True Love Never Regrets" comes with its own IP halo and is also known as the "most anticipated TV series of 2013". Its promotional slogan is "Continuing the essence of the movie and continuing the tragic love story between humans and demons".

Liu Kaiwei, Bai Yong, Ying Er, and Qiao Zhenyu are all familiar faces in period dramas, and they generate a lot of buzz.

In contrast, although "My Love from the Star" is very popular and its fans are incredibly dedicated, it inevitably appears to be fighting alone in this chaotic battle from all sides.

Hunan TV has the advantage of its platform, CCTV has the official endorsement, and "The Patriot Yue Fei" has an all-star cast.

As for "My Love from the Star," it really relied entirely on Jiang Chen's popularity.

Moreover, Jing Tian's acting skills have always been criticized, and Jiang Chen is acting in a modern drama for the first time, so there are some uncertainties.

In addition, the show hasn't aired yet, and no matter how crazy the fans are, they can't compete with the other party's abundant promotional resources.

However, "My Love from the Star" is not entirely without a chance to fight back.

The two investors behind it, Wanda Pictures and Tencent Video, have both stepped up their efforts.

This is why when it comes to producing TV series and movies, people tend to prefer these large, powerful companies.

The entertainment industry is not a place where one can have everything to themselves, and these companies are investing more than just money.

Wanda took the lead.

716 Wanda Cinemas and Huanying Cinemas across the country launched the service simultaneously, covering more than 6000 screens.

Starting June 21, a 30-second trailer for "My Love from the Star" will be played before every full-length film screening.

The LED screens in the cinema, the LCD screens in the lobby, and the screens on the ticket machines will rotate every 3 minutes for 15 days.

Themed screens in Wanda Plazas across the country are lit up simultaneously, creating a three-dimensional exposure effect between cinemas and shopping malls.

Tencent Video followed suit, expanding its online resources across the board.

The video homepage features a large banner ad that immediately displays a poster of Jiang Chen and Jing Tian gazing at each other.

The top banner of the TV drama channel is now locked; clicking it will take you directly to the preview and reservation page.

QQ pop-up push notification 2!

In 2013, QQ was still the core social network for hundreds of millions of users, and a single pop-up window could generate tens of millions of impressions.

Tencent News app also published a special report on "My Love from the Star," titled "Jiang Chen: I didn't play an alien, but a observer walking through the long river of time."

The fans went wild sharing it, and the comments section was full of "Chenchen is absolutely right".

Both on the front lines and offline, actions were taken one after another, and the attention was largely regained.

On Weibo, hashtags such as #StarYouWandaSoilDumping# and #PenguinPopupWindowJiangChen# have successively appeared on the trending topics list.

The oranges were greatly encouraged: "See that? That's dumping soil!"

"Wanda Daddy is awesome! Penguin Daddy is mighty!"

Although Hunan TV and CCTV are still pushing their dramas hard, "My Love from the Star" has at least not been completely banned, which means it has managed to hold its ground.

Jiang Chen himself was also busy.

On June 28, his "Unstoppable" tour kicked off its third stop at the Chengdu Sports Center.

This is the last major public appearance before the broadcast, and it is also the most important part of the promotional period.

The city's rhythm of life has been completely disrupted.

Starting three days ago, orange-clad crowds began to pour into the arrival levels of Shuangliu Airport and East Railway Station.

They dragged suitcases, carried cash bags, and wore orange ribbons around their necks. Some came from Beijing, some from Shanghai, some from Guangzhou, and a few girls even took a slow, green train with more than thirty seats from Heilongjiang to Chengdu. When they got off the train, their legs were swollen.

Hotel owners in Chengdu may not know who Jiang Chen is, but they know Orange.

During those days, the occupancy rate of hotels near Chunxi Road was as high as 90%, and the most frequently asked question to the young receptionist was "How do I get to the Sports Center?"

At 6 p.m. on June 28, traffic around the Chengdu Sports Center began to grind to a halt.

People's Central Street, West Imperial Street, and East Imperial Street were packed with people, and traffic moved forward at a snail's pace.

Traffic police set up temporary control lines at the intersection, and the radio crackled with messages: "People's Middle Road is congested, requesting traffic diversion!"

"The pedestrian walkway on Xiyu Street is full; it is recommended that crowd control measures be implemented at the subway exit!"

In the square in front of the stadium, orange lights have begun to illuminate.

Some people were handing out support banners, some were organizing a large-scale sing-along, and some were holding up selfie sticks and shouting into the camera, "Family members, I've arrived in Chengdu! Chenchen, I'm here!"

The concert officially began at the designated time in the evening.

All 40,000 seats were occupied.

The sea of ​​orange lights stretched from the stands into the field, layer upon layer, like a burning ocean.

Some people had orange stars painted on their faces, some had orange ribbons tied in their hair, and some held up signs that read "Chenchen, Chengdu welcomes you."

Jiang Chen's music video was playing on a loop on the big screen, and every time the scene changed, the audience would erupt in screams.

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