Huayu 2015, the Artist of Light and Shadow

Chapter 171: Industry Bigwigs' In-Depth Analysis of the Film – It's a Guaranteed Hit! The Only Question is Whether It Can Break Records!

"Mr. Kang, how much do you think this film is worth at the box office?"

The movie screening has ended.

Miss Fu Bingxing has a clear understanding of all the content and quality of the movie "The Fairy Castle 2".

As one of the producers, she is very confident in this film.

However, we still need to discuss how much box office revenue this movie should achieve.

First, Mr. Kang from China Film Group needs to provide some approximate data.

Otherwise, it will be difficult for everyone to operate.

What was the box office figure for "Dying to Survive"?

Instead of answering the question immediately, President Kang first brought up the summer blockbuster film "Dying to Survive".

This movie was a critical and commercial success.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, "Dying to Survive" is a strong contender for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor at next year's Golden Rooster Awards.

Lu Yunzhou's film has excellent commercial appeal and may sweep the box office worldwide.

However, it will be quite difficult for it to compete with "Dying to Survive" in terms of awards.

Of course, "The Fairy Castle 2" still has a significant advantage in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories.

In addition, Fairy Castle 2 also has a significant advantage in some technical awards, such as Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.

"More than 30 billion, I guess."

Miss Fu Bingxing gave a rough estimate.

After thinking for a while, President Kang settled on a figure: "I think 'Fairy Castle 2' should be worth 40 billion."

Although the overall box office figures for the National Day holiday period will be lower, there will also be fewer competitors.

This year, "The Fairy Castle 2" will compete with "Project Gutenberg", Zhang Yimou's "Shadow", and "Hello, Mrs. Money" during the National Day holiday.

Although these movies haven't been released yet, Mr. Kang is aware of their quality and believes they won't pose a challenge to "The Fairy Castle 2".

After all, this is a special effects blockbuster.

The other films were not.

If viewers insist on watching a special effects blockbuster, their only option is "The Fairy Castle 2".

Moreover, the movie has many funny moments, especially Nazha's repeated jumping around, which Kang Zong still remembers vividly after watching the movie.

Involuntarily, he recalled the protagonist's line: "I told you to run in the opposite direction, not to run to the other side."

It's absolutely hilarious.

However, this line has a deeper meaning.

President Kang didn't think too much about it and just considered the role as a comedic relief.

Naza's acting was also quite good; she was very honest and straightforward.

It matches Nazha's personality.

Indeed, a director's skill lies in bringing out the actor's true personality.

Lu Yunzhou is very good at this!

"40 million."

After hearing the data provided by President Kang, Miss Fu Bingxing immediately typed the number out in the WeChat group: "Everyone saw it, right? Let's all work hard."

If this movie grosses 40 billion yuan in China, the stocks of all the companies involved would be worth at least two consecutive daily price limits, right?

"In addition, I have some good news to share: the 'Fairy Castle' IP may be developed into a game and released in the Middle East."

"I remember, each company owns shares in this IP, right?"

This IP belongs to a project company under Lu Yunzhou's director studio, and Lu Yunzhou naturally owns a majority stake in the IP.

However, each investment company also has a share.

Although when you calculate it carefully, you won't get much money.

But in the capital market, having a story to tell is the most important thing.

Lu Yunzhou is able to lead everyone to create an IP.

This IP can go overseas, be made into games, and in the future, it might even be able to produce spin-off dramas, animations, and sell various fairy dolls.

This is a huge market.

Regardless, the priority is to create a compelling story and extract funds from the secondary market.

It's good for everyone.

"Don't worry, Mr. Fu, we know what to do."

"Let's all work together to get the publicity going first, and then boost the box office."

"If all else fails, we'll book the entire venue virtually."

Lu Yunzhou has finished making the movie; the rest is naturally handled by the various partners.

Lu Yunzhou will not interfere with any publicity or ticket manipulation.

If he does everything by himself, what are the others supposed to do? Someone has to be left to eat.

After watching the movie, various business partners had all sorts of meetings and trivial matters to discuss.

After all, the film industry is a complex supply chain.

Everyone in the industry chain has their own share of the profits.

As for Lu Yunzhou himself, he naturally has his own core demands.

First and foremost, maintain good relationships with your core fans.

"Brother, this movie was pretty good. The only downside was that there weren't enough cool scenes. Why didn't you film more cool scenes for yourself?"

Actually, there are quite a few scenes in this movie where Lu Yunzhou shows off his coolness.

For example, the scene where he was dressed in a suit and driving a luxury car to meet Nazha on a blind date.

For example, he transforms in the subway station and fights a monster for five minutes, and then goes to Abdullah's mansion for a big battle, crushing the opponent's corrupted clone in one go.

For example, there's the scene where he joins the desert fairy team, stands atop a sand dune, and raises his arms in triumph.

These scenes were all very cool and exciting.

But in the eyes of Lu Yunzhou's fans, he's still not handsome enough.

Faced with this situation, Lu Yunzhou laughed and said, "The movie is not long enough, so I want to show as many special effects as possible."

As for the main character's cool scenes, there were indeed too few—wait until next year, I'll film an action movie and really show off my coolness!

The action scenes are mostly superheroic.

The protagonist fights from beginning to end, and every shot is designed to create an atmosphere of coolness for the protagonist.

Therefore, action movies can produce superstars.

In this day and age, handsome actors generally avoid making action movies to protect their looks, lest they ruin their appearance and thus destroy their livelihood.

Lu Yunzhou, however, was not afraid.

If he were disfigured, it would perfectly match his beloved tragic aesthetics, making him unforgettable for all viewers and becoming everyone's white moonlight.

"Brother, I'll wait for you."

Upon hearing that Lu Yunzhou was preparing to film an action scene, the little fan's eyes lit up, but then she looked worried and said, "But you have to take good care of yourself and don't get hurt."

"Thanks."

These fans can be quite adorable sometimes; they love you unconditionally.

Lu Yunzhou nodded, deeply moved.

Then, he had his assistant take out two gift boxes from a box behind him: "Thank you for taking the time to attend the screening of this movie. These are some small gifts from me. I hope you like them."

"I like whatever my brother gives me."

As the little fan spoke, she curiously opened the gift box to take a look.

Once the gift box was opened, the fan went wild and let out a scream.

"What's going on?"

"What happened up ahead?"

Why are you screaming for no reason?

The fans in line behind all stood on tiptoe and looked ahead, eager to see what had happened.

The first fan to receive the gift shouted from the front, "LDC gold bracelet, Kiko's complete Qixi Festival gift set! Thank you, brother! I love you forever!"

Upon hearing this, the entire audience erupted in screams.

Last time it was the Kourui silk scarf. Although it sells for a lot of money in specialty stores, costing several thousand yuan, some people online said sourly that the cost might only be 200 yuan.

Let those brainless fans not be fooled by Lu Yunzhou!

This time, Lu Yunzhou had obviously heard what was being said online, and directly gifted the gold bracelet.

A gold bracelet, even a thin chain, requires at least 5 grams of pure gold. Based on the cost of gold at 300 yuan per gram, the raw materials alone would cost close to 2000 yuan.

As for Kiko's complete Qixi Festival gift set, its symbolic meaning outweighs its practical value.

After all, many of them use high-end skincare products at home, which are more expensive than Kiko's. They don't particularly care.

But this was a gift from my idol.

From now on, as long as Kiko doesn't go bankrupt, they're willing to use it for a lifetime!

"Brother, today is my Valentine's Day—I'm so happy. Can I kiss you?"

The fans who received the gift must have lost all their intelligence by now.

Seeing Lu Yunzhou, who was so handsome he seemed to glow, all the fans were unable to move.

"That's not allowed."

Lu Yunzhou refused outright.

A kiss is absolutely out of the question; there are 500 people waiting for him.

If this precedent is set, and someone with an infectious disease gets mixed in, it could potentially cause a public safety incident.

"How about we take a picture together?"

Lu Yunzhou gestured to his assistant, who then picked up the fan's phone and took a photo of her with Lu Yunzhou.

The first fan set an example, and the next 500 people all received the same treatment.

Each person will need about half a minute to travel by Hualu Yunzhou.

Signing autographs, taking photos, giving gifts, and chatting casually, it took Lu Yunzhou nearly three hours to meet 500 fans.

"Brother, those shoes you're wearing are so cool—may I ask what brand they are? Where can I buy them?"

I want to buy a pair for my dad too.

Among these fans, one fan stood out for not noticing the leather shoes Lu Yunzhou was wearing, showing a filial piety and a desire to honor his father.

Lu Yunzhou couldn't help but take a few more glances, then whispered, "These shoes are sample shoes specially made for me by designer Kou Rui's studio. They're not for sale yet. There might be some collaboration models in the future. It's just a personal hobby of mine."

"Here's what we'll do. Give me an address and tell me your father's size, and I'll have someone send you two pairs."

As he spoke, Lu Yunzhou gently patted the little fan's head.

This child is so sensible!

Everyone else is here to see their idols, but this person is thinking of their own father.

"Thank you, brother."

The young fan knew that Lu Yunzhou was not short of money, but this unique care truly moved her, warming her heart like a hot spring.

After the group photo was taken, Lu Yunzhou had his assistant chat with the other person privately for a few minutes, exchanged addresses, and then added, "Remember to go home early and be careful on the road."

"Goodbye, brother. I will always support you! I've got my whole family supporting you!"

After saying goodbye, the female fan left with her companions.

After she left, the assistant said mysteriously to Lu Yunzhou, "Boss, guess what address she left?"

"How could I possibly have guessed that?"

"9

Lu Yunzhou stretched.

Signing autographs and taking photos with 500 people, plus engaging in gentle conversation to leave a good impression, is truly a physically demanding task.

He had been working for three hours, and when he checked the time, it was already past midnight.

The assistant couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out, "555 Qingxi Road."

Lu Yunzhou didn't react for a moment, but he felt like he had heard this address somewhere before.

555 Qingxi Road?

This looks like—Dan Palace!

This residential complex is almost the most expensive luxury home in Shanghai, consisting of 18 villas.

That little fan's family must be incredibly wealthy and powerful.

"She's quite the little rich girl."

Realizing this, Lu Yunzhou couldn't help but smile.

He thought the young fan wanted to buy a pair of shoes for her father as a filial gesture, but was too embarrassed to ask how much the shoes cost because she was short of money.

Lu Yunzhou had been through that age himself and knew that young people cared about their image, so he very understandingly gave them a pair as a treat for his fans.

He was being naive.

However, upon reflection, Lu Yunzhou was instantly delighted: "It seems that Kou Rui's shoes are really nice. Even a top-tier rich girl likes them."

This wealthy woman must have countless luxury items in her home.

The other party wouldn't even look at ordinary things.

The offline fan meeting lasted three hours and then came to an end.

Once a year, not often.

Therefore, Lu Yunzhou was very patient.

After seeing off the last little fan, Lu Yunzhou packed his things and prepared to leave, but saw Hu Lianxin and He Shiyu at the door.

Lu Yunzhou asked with some curiosity, "Xiao Hu, Xiao Hezi, why haven't you gone back yet?"

He Shiyu kept her head down and didn't say a word.

Hu Lianxin stared wide-eyed, asking expectantly, "Brother, isn't there a second half?"

"What second half?"

Lu Yunzhou pretended to be bewildered.

I'm not choosing concubines. What second half is there?

Hu Lianxin said casually, "It's just having a late-night snack. I saw Xiaotian go out to make arrangements just now."

"So they were having a late-night snack."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunzhou laughed heartily, waved his hand, and said, "Then let's go."

"Okay!"

Hu Lianxin immediately chuckled and followed.

Seeing that He Shiyu didn't move, Lu Yunzhou knew that He Shiyu was a shy and passive person, so he also called out, "Little Box, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and go."

"Um."

Upon hearing Lu Yunzhou's summons, He Shiyu reacted as if a switch had been flipped, immediately giggling and running up with her short legs.

The celebration banquet was held near the movie theater.

Cai Xukun and Tian Xiwei went ahead and booked a private room and ordered the dishes.

"Let me tell you, I'm about to become a top-tier superstar. The drama 'The Untamed' is bound to be a hit."

"Once the show becomes a hit, I'll be the most popular person in the company besides the eldest brother!"

"From now on, you all need to show me some respect—especially you, Aunt Wang. Don't call me 'vegetarian' or anything like that anymore, you—"

Those who understand—must call him Brother Kun!

Inside the private room, Cai Xukun was sitting there, bragging to Wang Ran and Tian Xiwei that he and Meng Ziyi would definitely become a huge hit after filming "The Untamed".

"Yes, yes. Kun Kun is bound to be a hit!"

Meng Ziyi sat right next to him, laughing foolishly.

Once her good friend Zhou becomes her sister-in-law, Lu Yunzhou will be her brother-in-law. No matter how famous Cai Xukun becomes, he will still have to call her Sister Meng.

While Meng Ziyi was grinning foolishly, he would occasionally look up at Nazha sitting not far away.

Naza is really beautiful.

Her eyes sparkled like pomegranate blossoms.

Her face is small and delicate, which is enviable.

Meng Ziyi felt that after she went back, she would have to talk to her personal stylist and create a new version of Nazha's makeup and styling.

"Xiao Hu, Xiao Hezi, find a seat anywhere."

Just then, Lu Yunzhou and his men pushed open the door and came in.

"Big brother, you're here! Please sit here!"

As soon as Cai Xukun saw Lu Yunzhou arrive, he quickly stood up, helped Lu Yunzhou move a chair, and instructed the waiter outside, "Everyone's here. Tell the kitchen to start serving the food."

Apart from Zhang Ruonan, Tang Yan, Wang Churan, Tian Xiwei, and Nazha, an unofficial member of the family, were all in this private room.

After looking around, Cai Xukun simply added a spot for Lu Yunzhou between himself and Wang Ran.

This location is very particular.

"whee."

Upon seeing Cai Xukun's arrangement, Wang Ran immediately revealed a satisfied smile.

She glanced at Cai Xukun silently, and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "You chicken, you did a good job tonight, I'll spare your life for now."

"Brother, it's too crowded over there, why don't you sit next to me?"

Liu Haocun suddenly spoke.

Normally, she's like a mute, never speaking.

But today, she is the leading lady in a movie, radiating her own aura.

She felt she could try to get a small benefit.

Next to Liu Haocun was Zhang Jingyi, who couldn't help but look at Lu Yunzhou with a hint of anticipation on her face.

"You're a huge contributor to the film's success; I'll toast you later!"

Lu Yunzhou smiled at Liu Haocun: "After the movie is released, we'll go to Guangdong for promotion. We'll try our best to get you a Best Actress award at the Hundred Flowers Awards!"

Lu Yunzhou had completely lost interest in awards.

As long as the audience likes the movie, that's all that matters.

In fact, if the Hundred Flowers Awards don't give him the award, there might be an unexpected surprise—after all, if he doesn't get the award, his fans will find ways to feel sorry for him!

And when fans feel sorry for him, they'll buy all his products!

Unfortunately, he is the company boss and cannot create a persona for himself. The entire company, from his agent to his assistant, driver, and bodyguard, bullies him.

Hey!

What idiot came up with this kind of character design?

That's probably only fooling idiots!

However, their purpose might just be to filter out the fools?

"Ah Kun, why are there only a few of us? Sister Ji and Uncle Da are getting old, it's understandable that they left early because they didn't want to stay up late. Where's Old Dong? Why isn't he here?"

There were only two men present: Lu Yunzhou and Cai Xukun.

Ji Rujing and Huang Yida were getting old, and they had a daughter to take care of, so it's normal that they passed away first.

Even the assistant director, Lao Dong, isn't here?

"Brother, you don't know this."

Cai Xukun explained a few words to Lu Yunzhou.

After the screening, Lao Dong was the first to leave.

Right now, Lao Dong is probably bragging to his old friends about how much he contributed to the movie "The Fairy Castle 2".

Because this project was done so well, Lu Yunzhou promoted Lao Dong to be the director of "A Writer's Odyssey".

Old Dong has finally made something of himself.

Returning home in wealth and honor is like wearing fine clothes at night.

Whether "A Writer's Odyssey" will be a hit is still unknown, but he's qualified to be a director now, and Old Dong has become a person of high status.

Naturally, you have to have some fun first.

"It's human nature, and it's understandable."

After hearing Cai Xukun's explanation, Lu Yunzhou said no more.

"Xiao Meng, why haven't you said a word today?"

Lu Yunzhou turned to look at the silent Wang Cheran, thinking she was envious of Liu Haocun and Gulnazar being able to appear on the big screen. He then whispered, "The Queen of Tears is a hit. Next month is New York Fashion Week. Come with me. It'll be perfectly legitimate, no need to hide."

"Um.

""

Upon hearing this, Wang Churan smiled sweetly.

Finally, they can openly show their affection! And they can even secretly release press releases saying they're attending New York Fashion Week as a "couple"!

"After all, with Sister Nan gone, I'm the first wife!"

Wang Ran was slightly pleased to see that Lu Yunzhou was indifferent to everyone else but cared about her feelings.

At the same time, she also understood that Lu Yunzhou was a very rule-abiding person.

Liu Haocun was very favored, after all, she was the female lead in the movie.

Naza was also very favored — Lu Yunzhou added several scenes for Naza in the movie.

Zhang Tianai was good; she adhered to the rules during filming and didn't cross any lines. Therefore, Lu Yunzhou created a perfect willow tree fairy for her.

However, the movie has already finished filming, the screening is over, and now it's time for a family dinner.

She is the second child.

With her eldest sister Zhang Ruonan absent, she naturally became the mistress of the house and enjoyed the treatment of the first wife.

"Brother, let me toast you."

Cai Xukun poured Lu Yunzhou a beer and started bragging to him: "Brother, the special effects in this movie are amazing! Absolutely the best in Chinese cinema! I reckon no one but you could have done it."

"It's not that bad."

Lu Yunzhou was quite modest, waving his hand and saying, "The main thing is, other teams can't afford this kind of money. Special effects, if you want them to be effective, you have to spend real money. There's no room for ambiguity."

Lu Yunzhou drank a glass of beer and looked around.

They're all on our side.

The furthest relationship is between Hu Lianxin and He Shiyu.

But it's actually not that far.

Now, Hu Lianxin is her own number one fan site admin.

He Shiyu will soon become the female lead in her next action TV series and will also sign with her own company, so she will naturally be one of them.

"Wait a minute."

After looking around, Lu Yunzhou suddenly realized that someone was missing. He looked at Tang Yan and asked, "Sister, why haven't I seen Qiqi today?"

"She's still filming 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber' in Hengdian."

Tang Yan covered her mouth and laughed: "I asked her before to take a day off and come see your highlight moment."

After all, our company relies entirely on you to make money. The other projects are just for generating volume and keeping the company afloat. However, Qiqi flatly refused.

"She said she was afraid that if she came, she would inexplicably become your little fangirl and lose what little intelligence she had left!"

All the artists currently signed to the company want to drink porridge.

Even Dai Si, who was usually quiet, looked at Lu Yunzhou with a strange expression.

Only Chen Yuqi seemed to be completely clear-headed.

She would disappear during all of Lu Yunzhou's highlight moments—she was afraid that, like everyone else, she would inexplicably become like someone under a spell and have an irresistible urge to drink porridge.

She also knows she's not very intelligent.

Lu Yunzhou shook his head, somewhat speechless: "I'm going to New York Fashion Week next month. Why don't you ask her if she wants to come along? She played a pretty good role in 'Ashes of Love,' and she's gained a little fame. Doesn't she want to get some fashion endorsements?"

After saying that, Lu Yunzhou emphasized, "Sister, the company doesn't support idlers. Right now, everyone in the company has endorsements and brings in revenue. She's the only one with nothing, just dragging the company down. Ask her for me what she's thinking about every day?"

Tang Yan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

She knew what Chen Yuqi was thinking.

Chen Yuqi was worried that Lu Yunzhou would take a liking to her and ask if she would be willing to be the seventh child.

She didn't want to be the seventh child, didn't want to get involved in the drama, and was afraid that Lu Yunzhou would ask her: "Qiqi, what is your dream?" Then, she couldn't resist the temptation.

Knowing she couldn't resist temptation, she ran far away and never bothered to hang around Lu Yunzhou unless absolutely necessary.

After scolding Chen Yuqi, Lu Yunzhou said to He Shiyu earnestly, "Little Box, once you join the company, you can learn from anyone, but just don't learn from Qiqi. I have high hopes for you."

"Um.

""

He Shiyu racked her brains for a moment, trying to recall who Chen Yuqi was.

They are the same type as me.

A beautiful woman in period dramas, possessing a variety of qualities: delicate and graceful, heroic and gentle.

Chen Yuqi is so salty, it's just right.

He can be replaced!

"The little box is still the most obedient."

Lu Yunzhou sighed and asked Cai Xukun to remove the beer from He Shiyu's table and replace it with some juice.

After a few drinks, Lu Yunzhou was slightly tipsy.

He unbuttoned his shirt, his face slightly flushed, and put his arm around Cai Xukun's shoulder while putting his arm around Wang Ran's shoulder: "It is the luckiest thing in my life to know everyone."

He was clearly a little drunk.

Hu Lianxin and He Shiyu were originally just fans and didn't have much contact with Lu Yunzhou. Now they looked at Lu Yunzhou with some curiosity.

The movie was clearly a success, so why did Lu Yunzhou look so tired and worried?

Tang Yan had already seen it many times.

She explained to the two of them, "He always acts like this after a few drinks, when he's in a good mood. He behaves like a tragic poet. There's always a sense of loneliness about him."

After saying that, Tang Yan sighed and said, "Isn't it heartbreaking?"

Hu Lianxin and He Shiyu exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

More than just heartache.

They couldn't help but want to go over and hug Lu Yunzhou.

After a while, Lu Yunzhou and Cai Xukun put their arms around each other's shoulders and started singing together for no apparent reason: "Life's journey is as long as a beautiful dream."

"The road is lined with wind and frost, the wind and frost sting my face."

In this mortal world, how many directions can a beautiful dream take?

Life is like a long road, and beautiful dreams are like that road, stretching endlessly.

The road was filled with hardships and difficulties, and the wind and frost made people feel exhausted.

In this chaotic world, which direction should we go?

I often feel lost.

"Fairy Castle 2" was not based on any other films by Lu Yunzhou. It was a unique film created by him based on his own aesthetic tastes and previous experience.

Will it succeed?

he does not know.

He was under a lot of pressure during filming.

-

To increase the chances of success for this film, he first filmed a super idol drama called "Queen of Tears," which became a hit throughout the summer.

It has become a hit in more than 50 countries and regions.

Next, "The Fairy Castle 2" will be released in October.

This is equivalent to him releasing the popularity gathered by "Queen of Tears" all at once, and gaining box office benefits in the shortest time.

Even so, he was still very uneasy.

What if the movie flops?

After all, a movie is a commodity, and before it is released to the market, no one knows how well it will sell.

Meanwhile, at another drinking party...

Mr. Kang, the general manager of China Film Group, was chatting with Mr. Fu, a colleague of his.

This Mr. Fu is not Mr. Fu from Huace Film & TV.

Instead, he was the general manager of China Film Distribution Corporation, the former deputy general manager of China Film Group Corporation, and the chairman of the board of directors of Beijing Film Academy. (The film is titled "Journey on the Mekong River.")

The producer and distributor of "Action".

He is also a strong contender for the next head of China Film Group.

"Old Fu, you understand film, and you understand technology too. What do you think of *The Fairy Castle 2*?"

President Kang turned to look at President Fu.

In 2016, Mr. Fu attended the Shanghai International Film Festival and talked with director Li An, who was working on "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk". Li An was troubled because he did not have the equipment to play the 34TB film.

Later, Mr. Fu went to New York to watch "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" and was inspired to create a domestically produced projection system.

In the same year, Huaxia Film Industry, which he led, began developing the CINITY film projection system!

Just recently, China Film Group developed a prototype of the CINITY movie projection system!

This is a technological breakthrough for the domestic film industry.

"The movie 'The Fairy Castle 2' is technically outstanding. It is definitely one of the best domestic films ever made. Even by Hollywood standards, it would be a top-tier production."

After taking a sip of wine, President Fu spoke very seriously.

Mr. Kang smiled, then suddenly asked meaningfully, "The filming location is overseas, and almost all the technical staff are foreign. Can this be considered a domestic film?"

Mr. Fu looked up, chuckled, and retorted, "Why doesn't that count? The director is Chinese! The technical team may be foreigners, but the leader is Director Lu. He's Chinese. This team is a Chinese team!"

Upon hearing this, President Kang couldn't help but laugh: "That's just sophistry. You think that's acceptable?"

"Why not?"

Mr. Fu said nonchalantly, "If we use your standards, take apart any domestically produced mobile phone on the market now, and you'll see how many parts are foreign-made. But since the brand is Chinese, it's a Chinese mobile phone! Movies are the same kind of product!"

After setting the tone, President Fu continued, "Don't underestimate 'The Fairy Castle 2' just because it's a superhero movie. Director Lu uses an unconventional heroic narrative!"

"How so?"

Hearing this, President Kang became somewhat interested.

After taking a sip of his drink, President Fu said, "Most superhero movies feature 'chosen heroes'!"

The male protagonist in this movie is an ordinary person forced into this situation!

"Of course, if you insist on calling him a chosen hero, then you could say that. After all, he was a very powerful reincarnation of a Taoist."

"However, Director Lu cleverly changed the protagonist's personality, using the concept of reincarnation to completely sever ties with the lonely hero from the previous film!"

"In this movie, the male lead, Leonardo DiCaprio, is just an ordinary person!"

"He only had 36 cents left in his card."

"His biggest dream is to return to China with a group of fairies who follow him and live a peaceful life—as for whether he will ever be able to return, that's for sure."

"After all, we don't allow spirits to exist here!"

After making a joke, President Fu continued, "Little Li, although he possesses great power, he has no desire to be a hero."

"Because being a hero comes at a heavy price!"

"In the movie, he was forced to be a hero several times, not to save the world, but simply to protect those around him!"

"This kind of narrative completely frees Xiao Li from the unrealistic 'chosen one' hero template, turning him into an ordinary person that every contemporary viewer can empathize with."

"The core of the film has also changed. The central conflict is no longer 'good triumphs over evil,' but rather 'when disaster strikes, how ordinary people choose between self-preservation and taking responsibility!'"

"In this way, the core message of the film changes!"

"It has shifted from a heroic narrative to a narrative about ordinary people. Director Lu's ability to smoothly transition to this point through the modification of the male protagonist's character is truly remarkable."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this kind of grassroots narrative will resonate tremendously globally!"

applaud!

This is exactly what President Kang wanted to hear.

After watching the movie, he felt that it would be a hit overseas as well.

As for why?

Just now, President Fu said it all!

Well said!

"Besides, Mr. Kang, having spent so much time in Europe, you should be able to see that Director Lu has buried a very dense array of mythological metaphors in this film!"

"Almost every core character can be found in ancient Greek mythology and the Abrahamic religious system."

"Moreover, he did not simply copy it, but rather adapted it to the Middle East and reconstructed it locally."

As Mr. Fu spoke, he became more and more enthusiastic, and after drinking one small glass of wine after another, his face became somewhat rosy.

European culture is one of Mr. Kang's strengths.

Mr. Kang spent many years in Europe.

At this moment, President Kang and President Fu clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp, and then Kang started talking: "You're right. When I watched the first movie, I thought the female lead, Xue'er, was a bit like Artemis from Greek mythology."

"Artemis, daughter of Zeus, never married. She carried a bow and arrow, traversing the wilderness. She was a guardian and a lonely warrior."

"The female protagonist, Xue'er, carries the Demon-Suppressing Sword and travels all over the world to protect the abyss. She accompanies the male protagonist as his apprentice."

Although she liked the protagonist, she never expressed her feelings because of her immense sense of responsibility.

"That's one thing!"

Secondly, the entire film has a core value: the right to sacrifice.

"In ancient Greek tragedies, only those with public virtues were qualified to become sacrifices—the heroine Cher, who was spat out twice after jumping into the abyss, was because her motivation for sacrifice was private."

"She only wanted to save her master, not the people of the Persian Gulf."

"She was protecting her personal feelings, not her public responsibilities, therefore she was not qualified to be a sacrifice."

"This setting completely follows the sacrificial ethics of ancient Greek tragedy."

"The native monk Hassan is a tragic hero in the style of Hercules."

"His family had guarded the depths of the Persian Gulf for generations. When they went to explore the sea, they were corrupted by the power, all of his companions died, and he carried the guilt alone for decades. In the end, he sacrificed himself—this is a typical tragic hero of ancient Greece."

"A hero falls because of his mistakes, but his final choice brings him redemption!"

After saying this, President Kang suddenly remembered the sea fairy played by Gulnazar.

The fairy's character design is the most interesting.

"The character Adeline, played by Gulnazar, has a name derived from ancient Greek, meaning 'noble woman.' In ancient Greek mythology, she was a handmaiden of Poseidon, the god of the sea."

"She represents maritime civilization, which is also known as Western civilization."

"Director Lu used this name to anchor the Western attributes of this character from the very beginning."

"But in the movie, she undergoes three identity changes."

"In the first stage, she concealed her identity as a sea creature and went to fall in love with the protagonist in order to steal the sword soul of the Demon-Suppressing Sword."

""

"This applies to many people, whether they are international students, business people, or people from other places—their first stage is to go to the West, learn about Western culture, try to integrate into Western society, and even want to acquire the core of Western culture, which is the 'Sword Soul' in the movie."

However, most people will fail!

"Thus, this group of people experienced identity anxiety and had the motivation to return home. In the movie, this is shown as follows: after Adeline's identity was exposed by the female protagonist, Cher, she immediately returned to the sea tribe's camp and rushed to the front to attack the desert fairies—the movie did not show how she returned, leaving a ambiguity and endless room for imagination."

"Director Lu probably didn't want to cause trouble, after all, this movie is going to be shown overseas and rely on overseas Chinese for box office revenue."

"The most interesting thing is the third transformation."

"Adeline saw an opportunity to betray her allies, so she immediately cut ties with them, even kicking aside her own countrymen, and fought alongside the male protagonist—but what was the result?"

"This scene was filmed very warmly in the movie."

"The protagonist fights alongside Adeline and discovers the abyssal power within her. To prevent her from losing her mind, they temporarily seal her away—but in reality, as you can guess, these people will be monitored, hidden away for life, and never have a chance to rise again!"

Upon hearing this, President Fu's eyes widened.

Is there really such a metaphor?

However, after thinking about it carefully, he realized it was hard to say.

The three betrayals of Nazha's character are so strange.

What kind of character jumps around like that, yet it doesn't annoy ordinary viewers at all, and even makes them think the character is cute?

It's so well disguised!

However, once you see through the director's metaphor, this character is really too representative!

One word, absolutely!

Mr. Fu laughed and took over the conversation, saying, "If we break it down like this, this movie has at least four philosophical propositions."

"The first philosophical question is: Who is qualified to sacrifice? Not just anyone is qualified to talk about sacrifice; it must be for the greater good, not for personal gain."

"The second philosophical proposition is the clash of civilizations and the shift in allies. We are currently in the midst of such a massive transformation, and many people are finding it difficult to adapt."

"The third philosophical proposition is limited heroism. In this era, the price of being a hero is too high. Ordinary people don't want to be heroes. But when those around them are in danger, most people will still stand up."

"There is one last proposition: the aesthetics of imperfection. In this world, there is no perfect victory, no complete end. Everything alternates between light and darkness. It is always in a state of chaos."

"By the way—the poem written by the willow tree fairy in this movie is also wonderful, perfectly capturing the theme of the film."

"May I be like a star and you like the moon, shining brightly together every night. Though the moon may wane, the stars will always shine."

"Darkness is temporary, light is eternal, but darkness will never be completely gone."

After the analysis, President Fu breathed a sigh of relief.

Many of the metaphors in this film bear traces of ancient Greek tragedy, but more importantly, they reflect the thoughts of today's young people.

Mr. Fu believes that the film will resonate strongly around the world after its release.

"Top-notch special effects, a plethora of comedic moments, and endearing characters—Director Lu has made a family-friendly film. But at the same time, he's also planted so many hidden plot lines."

"That's amazing!"

If this were an art film, with so many intricacies, Mr. Fu would find it perfectly normal.

But this is a special effects blockbuster.

That's truly remarkable.

Mr. Kang asked with a smile, "Do you think this movie will be a box office hit?"

Mr. Fu laughed heartily: "What you should be asking is, how big of a hit can it be? 40 billion in China, 3 million US dollars in North America, and 3 million US dollars in Europe—that's 12 billion US dollars! Japan, South Korea, South America, the Middle East, Australia—if we round it up, it might reach 100 billion RMB!"

Zhang Yimou's "Shadow" has good art direction, but it's too artistic; the average viewer definitely won't like it.

"Project Gutenberg" is a Hong Kong film, and its audience is limited.

"Li Cha's Aunt" is a comedy by Happy Twist, but Shen Teng is not the lead actor, so the box office won't be very high.

Throughout the entire National Day holiday period, "Fairy Castle 2" had no rivals.

Looking at the world, October is not a major release period — however, Lu Yunzhou himself has a huge box office appeal, and no matter what release date it is, the box office will not be bad.

The box office performance of this movie might surprise them!