The entertainment industry: My 99 future timelines!

End of July.

The post-production of "Love Announcement" has finally been completed with another round of editing.

In a well-equipped private screening room at the Beijing Film Academy, a small-scale, high-profile film screening was quietly held.

There weren't many people present, but they were all extremely important.

Besides Li Xu, Shen Ao, and Wang Jing, there were Professor Zheng Dongtian, Mu Deyuan, and two other senior professors who were close to them and who were influential figures in the field of film theory and criticism.

Without much small talk or pleasantries, Zheng Dongtian and Mu Deyuan led the two familiar professors to their seats, then simply nodded to Li Xu, signaling the start of the meeting.

The screening room was plunged into darkness.

Li Xu sat in the back row and could clearly hear his slightly accelerated heartbeat.

He possesses abundant creative confidence when facing Wang Lihong and Jing Tian.

While he was equally confident in himself, he couldn't help but feel a little expectant as he faced these individuals who had dedicated decades to film education, theory, and criticism.

The world's top directors of the future will not be those of today.

The director Li Xu who made "Project Nantianmen" in 2027 is ultimately different from Li Xu, who was a sophomore at Beijing Film Academy in 2007 when he made his film debut.

While the affirmation from professors like Zheng Dongtian at the Beijing Film Academy may not bring direct market benefits to "Love Announcement," it is one of the most important "professional certifications" for entering the hall of film art.

Or to put it more simply, it means being recognized by a small circle of directors with extremely high status.

Wait until the movie starts playing.

The elderly gentlemen watched intently, but their faces remained almost expressionless.

Zheng Dongtian would occasionally adjust his glasses, while Mu Deyuan would squint slightly, both remaining silent.

The film continues until it shows Du Minghao and Song Qingyu's first kiss on a rainy night.

The camera slowly zooms in, rainwater meanders down the glass window, blurring the outlines of the two people inside the car, but the warmth of their intertwined lips, the strength of their fingers digging into their hair, and that youthful yet resolute longing all come rushing through the screen.

Several professors simultaneously uttered a soft "hmm".

It was very light, but exceptionally clear in the quiet screening room.

Li Xu's back tensed slightly.

When the movie ended, the lights came on.

The screening room was silent, as if the emotional storm that had just lasted 118 minutes was just an illusion.

Zheng Dongtian took off his glasses and slowly wiped them, not looking at Li Xu, but turning to Mu Deyuan: "Little Mu, what do you think?"

Mu Deyuan smacked his lips, as if savoring something, and slowly said, "The camera language is very steady, and the control of light and shadow is also very thoughtful. It's not just playing around; it's a real use of light to create form and express meaning. It's better than when I was young."

Another professor specializing in drama theory chimed in: "The story itself isn't particularly original, and it even fits a somewhat clichéd framework, but it's well-told."

"Old Mu, this kid truly lives up to your reputation as a top director prospect from Beijing Film Academy. Although he comes from the cinematography department, his directing skills are profound."

Another elderly professor nodded in agreement.

Zheng Dongtian put his glasses back on, and this time he finally looked at Li Xu in the back row. His gaze was calm, but his eyes clearly showed approval and appreciation.

"Li Xu, I've seen your movie. It's well-made, much better than I expected."

"It's not just a little good, it's a great good."

Zheng Dongtian's words, "Excellent!" brought Shen Ao and Wang Jing to their feet.

After all, the person who made this evaluation is no ordinary person, but Zheng Dongtian, a leading figure among the four generations of directors in China and a national-level film artist!

Regardless of whether he, a leading figure of the fourth generation of directors, would achieve high box office returns if he actually made a movie.

But at least he has that status and that vision, so his excellent evaluation is quite remarkable.

Next, even top directors in China like Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang, and Zhang Yimou will find it difficult to criticize or over-review the film "Love Announcement".

After all, it's about Zheng Dongtian's reputation.

In the domestic film and television industry, there are very few directors who would refuse him. There are countless fifth-generation and even sixth-generation directors in China who have benefited from his kindness and guidance.

Only Li Xu remained vigilant.

After this "great news," he estimated that Professor Zheng Dongtian would have to deal with a "but."

As expected, just as Li Xu had guessed, Zheng Dongtian then changed the subject.

"but…"

"Li Xu, I have a question."

"In your film, the use of light, the capture of fleeting emotions, the extreme attention to color and composition, and the precise counterpoint between music and visuals—these aesthetic tastes and creative methods are unlike anything taught at the Beijing Film Academy, and even unlike the aesthetics commonly found in the fifth and sixth generation of Chinese filmmakers."

"This is clearly the traditional style of European film directors, only with some of your own ideas mixed in. Can you tell me where these ideas and methods come from? Are they self-taught? Whose films did you watch? Who influenced you?"

Zheng Dongtian's question goes straight to the heart of the matter and is also the most difficult to answer.

Many of Li Xu's "methods" and "intuitions" are entirely derived from his "memories of a future top director," which are from 2027.

Furthermore, it is integrated with some of the performance methods in his "Memories of a Best Actor," which completely transcends time and region and cannot be attributed to any specific mentor or school of thought.

So he considered it carefully and could only answer cautiously: "Teacher Zheng, I have indeed watched a lot of movies, domestic and foreign, old and new, and I like to study the visuals and observe the light and shadow."

"As for the specific methods... it's probably more about feeling. If I feel that a certain scene should have this kind of lighting, or that a certain emotion should be accompanied by this kind of music, then I'll try it out, adjust it repeatedly, until I feel it's right."

"If I had to pinpoint an influence, I might have incorporated elements from many masters, but ultimately they all became my own way of understanding and expressing film."

Li Xu's answer was somewhat vague, but it was honest enough and fit the possible state of a "genius newcomer"—absorbing widely, internalizing, and forming a unique intuitive system.

Zheng Dongtian stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words, and finally slowly nodded.

"Intuition is very important, especially in the art of film, where in the end it comes down to aesthetic intuition and artistic sense."

"You have this intuition, you have the technical control and patience to accurately realize your intuition, and at this age, your current directing level is among the best, even among the many young directors under 30 in our country."

"But remember, don't be too arrogant, because arrogance will inevitably lead to failure."

He spoke slowly.

After receiving the "great approval" of Jung Dong-thum, a veteran in the film industry.

The next day, Li Xu, along with Shen Ao and others, held another small-scale screening at China Film Group, since China Film Group was also an investor.

The process was relatively easy, considering the quality of the finished film.

But after the screening, before the film's official release, there were still many trivial issues that Li Xu needed to resolve.

The first stage is the more tedious and often more grueling—the publicity and promotion phase.

The third day since the film was locked in.

A marketing and distribution planning meeting that would determine the future direction of a film was held in a small conference room at China Film Group Corporation.

The participants sat on either side of the long table, clearly divided into different groups.

On one side are the "creative and core stakeholders": Li Xu, Shen Ao, Wang Jing, and Liu Xiaoli, who represents Liu Yifei's personal investment and artist demands.

Liu Yifei was unable to attend today due to a magazine photoshoot and entrusted her mother, Liu Xiaoli, with the entire responsibility.

On the other side were the "investors and distributors": China Film Group sent the deputy manager of the distribution department and a young assistant.

As for Mr. Qian, the coal boss, no one came. This generous Mr. Qian chose to completely let go.

The meeting began.

Compared to previous screenings, the atmosphere was less focused on artistic quality and more on practical considerations of profit.

The meeting was chaired by Zhou, the deputy manager of the distribution department of China Film Group.

He was in his early forties, his hair was neatly combed, and his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses shone with shrewdness.

He adjusted his glasses and opened his notebook:

"Everyone has seen the film, and its quality is undeniable."

"Today, we'll close the door and focus on just one thing: how to sell this film effectively."

"Director Li, you're the director, why don't you share your ideas first?"

Li Xu nodded slightly, but did not speak himself. Instead, he looked at Wang Jing.

Wang Jingqing cleared his throat, a warm smile appearing on his face as usual: "Manager Zhou, Ms. Liu, on behalf of Director Li, I'd like to offer some preliminary thoughts for your consideration and feedback."

"I think our film, 'Love Announcement,' has obvious advantages."

"First, the film, co-created by director Li and actress Liu Yifei, boasts stunning visuals and a high level of visual appeal, which is the trump card for attracting the first wave of viewers. Secondly, the core of the story, loneliness and healing, can actually touch the hearts of many urban young people."

"Finally, we also received recognition and praise from Mr. Zheng, a veteran in the film industry, as well as several other professors from the Beijing Film Academy, which provides a solid foundation for our artistic reputation."

"Therefore, on behalf of Director Li, I suggest that we take a two-pronged approach to the promotion of this film."

"Online, we'll focus on 'the most beautiful on-screen couple,' 'a stunning work by a genius director from Beijing Film Academy,' and 'Liu Yifei's groundbreaking transformation' to generate buzz; offline, we can leverage the advantages of China Film Group to hold special screenings at universities and for moviegoers to build a positive reputation."

Wang Jing's words were comprehensive, highlighting both commercial appeal and artistic merit.

Upon hearing this, Manager Zhou tapped his finger on the table, revealing a professional smile: "Producer Wang is right. But I think we need to add more to the online component!"

He leaned forward, his tone becoming more forceful: "What 'disruptive transformation' and 'genius director'? Ordinary people don't understand!"

"We need to be direct—Liu Yifei's first on-screen kiss! A heartfelt performance by the nation's goddess! That's the biggest buzz! The publicity must highlight that, and all news reports must be bought in this direction!"

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze slightly.

Liu Xiaoli's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and spoke in a gentle yet clear voice:

"Manager Zhou, I understand that publicity needs trending topics."

"However, the term 'first kiss on the big screen' overemphasizes the actor's personal life and can easily give the audience a frivolous and sensational first impression of the film, which is inconsistent with the film's calm and healing tone."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Finally, his voice fell on Li Xu's face. His tone remained polite, but with a hint of insistence: "Our Xixi put a lot of effort into this performance. I hope the audience will focus on the character and her growth, rather than these things."

"The arrangement of screen time is a requirement of the director and the script. We respect the creative process. It can be mentioned in the publicity, but we do not recommend using it as a major gimmick."

Manager Zhou's smile faded slightly upon hearing this, and he leaned back slightly: "Ms. Liu, you can't say that. Our movies are made to sell at the box office!"

"Without gimmicks or buzz, who's going to the cinema?"

"How will we recoup the investment of tens of millions? How will we fulfill the 30 million box office agreement between Director Li and China Film Group?"

"Director Li, you're the main party involved, what do you think?"

The atmosphere suddenly became a little tense, and everyone's eyes turned to Li Xu.

Wang Jing wanted to speak up and smooth things over.

Shen Ao's expression darkened. Manager Zhou from China Film Group had singled out all the blame for their actions; he was no good.

Seeing this, Li Xu finally spoke, his voice not loud, but it made the atmosphere in the small conference room quiet down slightly, "Manager Zhou, your idea is very good, but I think there are other ways to solve this kind of thing."

With his gaze sweeping over the crowd, Li Xu spoke calmly: "Of course we need to sell our movie at the box office, but if all the hype is focused on the 'first on-screen kiss,' the audience we attract will be expecting a fast-food romantic soap opera."

"But in our movie, there's only one kissing scene, and it's the result of emotions building up to the extreme. If the audience comes in expecting something exciting, and then finds that it doesn't live up to expectations, the word-of-mouth will collapse instantly, and the number of screenings will plummet. There's no need for that."

Manager Zhou opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but Li Xu didn't give him the chance.

"Producer Wang just mentioned two lines of thought, which are in the right direction. But I think that in terms of specific implementation, we need to take two steps and target two different audience groups."

Li Xu's voice rang out clearly in the quiet conference room:

"The first step, a month before the release, is to focus on 'visual spectacle' and 'emotional resonance'."

"The materials mainly consist of exquisite posters, stills, and short emotional videos ranging from 30 to 60 seconds, highlighting the beauty of the visuals, the musical atmosphere, and close-ups of the male and female leads, Liu Yifei and myself."

"The slogans could be more emotional, such as 'This summer, meet the light that will heal you' or 'Lonely people, please come to this date.'"

"At the same time, it's appropriate to release some press releases highlighting Liu Yifei's breakthroughs, but not excessively."

"Our goal at this stage is to project the impression that the film is 'beautiful and moving,' attracting audiences who demand quality and are easily moved by emotions and visuals, especially young women."

"The second step, from the week before the release to after the release, is to go all out and focus on in-depth word-of-mouth and the generation of buzz."

"At this point, we released a longer trailer with a more narrative, guiding film critics and the media to conduct in-depth interpretations—not about the kissing scenes, but about 'urban loneliness,' 'modern people's emotional needs,' and 'healing and self-growth.'"

"At the same time, we will release Professor Zheng Dongtian's 'excellent' evaluation and the internal recognition from Beijing Film Academy in a measured manner."

He paused, then noticed that everyone in the small conference room was looking at him.

Li Xu smiled and said, "To the general public, we sell 'beautiful love' and 'visual feast,' while to the media and film critics, we communicate 'emotional depth' and 'authorial expression.'"

"Use popular popularity to ensure basic screenings, use professional word-of-mouth to extend the box office lifeline, attract secondary viewers and word-of-mouth spread, and win on both ends without competing with each other."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Wang Jing's eyes lit up, and he lightly tapped the table with a hint of sarcasm, saying, "Brilliant, Director Li! First, use the visuals and the cast to solidify your base, attracting curious onlookers. Then, establish your brand with the core content and word-of-mouth, ensuring that those who come in feel it's worthwhile and can even praise it! This strategy is brilliant!"

Manager Zhou from China Film Group slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. His expression changed from initial skepticism to contemplation, and finally he nodded slowly.

His gaze toward Li Xu held a newfound respect: "Director Li is so young, yet he has a very accurate grasp of the rhythm of market communication and the psychology of the audience. Our China Film Distribution Department believes this approach is feasible."

"It can ensure commercial success while maintaining the film's tone, avoiding excessive entertainment that could damage the work's reputation."

Liu Xiaoli nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with Li Xu's plan, which could both protect Liu Yifei's image as an artist and effectively promote the film.

Thus, the biggest disagreement between China Film Distribution Department and Liu Xiaoli was temporarily bridged within Li Xu's clear framework.

The discussion then moved into specific details:

Such as who will edit the trailer, how many versions will be made, the budget for distribution channels, the list of media invitees, and the selection of cities for offline events...

The meeting lasted from morning to afternoon, and the water in the teacups was refilled again and again.

Ultimately, the plan was finalized.

Li Xu personally edited two versions of the trailer.

One is a 90-second "popular sentiment version," and the other is a 60-second "fan-oriented version."

Online campaigns, media strategies, and roadshow planning have all been refined based on the principle of "two steps and two levels".

When the meeting ended, it was nearly dusk.

After seeing off the representatives from all sides, only Li Xu, Shen Ao, and Wang Jing remained in the private room.

Wang Jing let out a long sigh, slumped into his chair, and rubbed his throbbing temples: "My god, dealing with these deities is more tiring than filming a movie."

"Director Li, you were absolutely brilliant today! With just a few words, you completely thwarted Manager Zhou's little schemes at China Film Distribution Department, and even got Ms. Liu Xiaoli to give her approval. How did you come up with that?"

Li Xu leaned back in his chair, a hint of fatigue on his face, but his eyes remained clear: "It's simply a matter of being clear about things. They care about their interests, so we'll tell them how to obtain long-term benefits."

"Movies are commodities, but they are also works of art. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs benefits no one."

Shen Ao exclaimed, "It's finally settled. Xu Ge, how are you planning to edit the trailer? Time is tight."

"Let's start work tonight."

Li Xu stood up and stretched his stiff neck.

"The mass-market version should be fast-paced, with concentrated highlights, and the music should be emotionally charged, bringing out the emotional peaks of 'beauty' and 'torture'."

"For the fan version, slow down, use more establishing shots and eye expressions, emphasize changes in light and shadow and atmosphere, and keep the dialogue concise and refined, leaving room for interpretation."

Then he looked at Wang Jing and said, "Wang Jing, for the list of invited media and film critics, just follow the list we decided today and get in touch with China Film Group as soon as possible."

"In addition, we should pay attention to guiding public opinion. In the early stages, there may be some questions directed at me or Yifei. We should control the level of criticism and not forcefully control the comments, but we should also prevent negative voices from forming a vortex."

"clear!"

Wang Jing also stood up, full of energy.

"Director Li, don't worry about the important matters. I'll handle these minor issues outside!"