Huayu: I rely on hit-movie tactics to interweave...

Chapter 77 Big Explosion

On May 2nd, Liu Yu was woken up by his phone vibrating.

He squinted and reached for his phone on the bedside table. The screen displayed a string of unread messages; the top one was from Zhong Lifang, containing only one line of numbers: "National box office: 3.1 million. Doubled."

Liu Yu stared at the number for three seconds, then put his phone face down on the bedside table, turned over, turned back over, and picked up his phone again to look at it once more.

Three million one hundred thousand.

Yesterday it was 2.6 million, and today it increased by 500,000.

He had seen the trends of the May Day film season many times. A film that cost five million to make broke three million on the second day. This was not just a trend, it was a jump.

He sat up, leaned against the headboard, and replied to Zhong Lifang, "Has the number of screenings increased tomorrow?"

She replied instantly: "It's gone up. There have been 15% more screenings nationwide. The theaters added them on their own initiative, saying the attendance was too high and the audience would complain if they didn't add more screenings."

Liu Yu's lips twitched slightly as he looked at the words "The audience is going to complain."

He put down his phone, went to the kitchen to boil a pot of water, and stood by the window looking down.

The trees in the neighborhood are all green, and the sunlight shines through the leaves, casting shadows that sway on the ground.

Downstairs, some people are walking their dogs, some are carrying plastic bags of breakfast home, and some are sitting on benches looking at their phones.

He stood by the window for a while and felt as if he were standing in a periscope that was slowly rising. Everything outside seemed normal, but only he knew how much tremor had occurred underwater.

After washing up and changing his clothes, Liu Yu went out.

Today is the third day of the release of "Stone", and he has to go to the company.

When I arrived at the office, Zhong Lifang was already there.

She sat on the sofa by the window, holding a cup of coffee, with several newspapers spread out on the coffee table in front of her. When she saw Liu Yu come in, she didn't stand up, but simply pushed one of the newspapers towards him, letting him read it himself.

The newspaper was the entertainment section of the Beijing News, and the headline on the front page, in bold black font, read: "Crazy Stone."

It became a dark horse during the May Day holiday, grossing over six million yuan in just two days.

Liu Yu picked up the newspaper and scanned it. The article wasn't particularly in-depth, but it provided comprehensive data: 2.6 million on the first day, 3.1 million on the second day, and an estimated 3.2 million on the third day, totaling nearly 9 million over three days. The article concluded with an interview with a theater manager who said, "This film is the biggest surprise of this year's May Day holiday season. Its occupancy rate surpassed all other blockbusters released during the same period, and the audience response has been overwhelming."

He put down the newspaper and sat down on the sofa opposite Zhong Lifang. "Any news from Yu Dong?"

"President Yu made two phone calls yesterday. The first was to ask about the box office, and the second was also about the box office," Zhong Lifang smiled. "He said he regretted it. He said that when I asked him to invest, he didn't. He also said that for the next Qianlang project, he wants to lock in the quota in advance and not wait until the announcement is released before getting on board."

Liu Yu leaned back on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the GG sign outside the window.

"He's not the only one who regrets it."

The phone rang that very afternoon after he said that.

The first one was Wang Zhonglei, who said with a smile, "Director Liu, you kept the film 'Stone' a secret for a while. If I had known you invested in it, Huayi Brothers would have had to get involved too. Next time you have a project like this, let me know in advance, don't go around reaping all the benefits alone."

"Mr. Wang, this is a small project. We will definitely cooperate next time when there is a suitable opportunity."

The first thing Yu Dong said after the call connected was, "Director Liu, what are your plans for Qianlang Pictures next? I'd still like to follow up on the films you've invested in."

Han Sanping spoke more calmly than the previous two. He first inquired about the box office, and then casually remarked at the end, "The previous generation made a good move. If China Film Group has the opportunity to co-invest in the future, we can get a larger share."

As Liu Yu listened to Han Sanping's voice on the phone, he thought to himself, "Back when 'Stone' was looking for investment, we went to so many companies with a budget of five million, but no one wanted it. Now that the box office is booming, five million has become a fifty million business. People who wouldn't even glance at it back then are now lining up to get on board."

The rules in this circle are simple: if you win once, everyone is willing to bet with you a second time; but if you lose once, those who once praised your good judgment will turn their backs on you very quickly.

On May 3rd, the daily box office of "Stone" reached 3.7 million.

May 4th, 3.9 million. May 5th, 4.1 million.

By the end of the May Day holiday, its cumulative box office had exceeded 25 million.

This figure isn't impressive in a year dominated by blockbusters, but for a comedy film with a budget of five million, it's a textbook example of return on investment.

The media began reporting on it extensively. This time, the angle was no longer "the dark horse of the May Day holiday," but "a great victory for low-budget films."

One media outlet published a feature article titled "How Five Million Becomes Fifty Million:

The box office miracle.

The article begins with director Ning Hao's personal experience, recounting how his film "Incense" won international awards but went unnoticed domestically, how he spent three months freezing on the grasslands while filming "Green Grassland," and how he was rejected by more than a dozen investment companies with his script until he met Qianlang Pictures.

The article contained a passage that Liu Yu later saw reposted online: "When everyone is chasing big productions and big stars..."

In an era of big-budget productions, a comedy film with a budget of five million yuan grossing over twenty million yuan in a week based solely on its script and acting is not only a commercial miracle but also a wake-up call for the market.

On May 10th, Ning Hao held his victory celebration banquet at a restaurant on the East Fourth Ring Road.

The private room wasn't big, with four tables set up. There weren't many people there, but everyone was connected to the movie.

The group included key members of the production team, staff from Qianlang Pictures, and several friends who had supported him along the way.

When Liu Yu arrived, Ning Hao was already in the private room. He was wearing a newly changed black shirt, his hair was still messy, and he looked much better than before, with a slight buzz on his face.

When he saw Liu Yu come in, he stood up and took two steps to greet him, holding a glass of baijiu in his hand.

"Director Liu, this toast is for you. Without the pioneers, there would be no film like this."

Liu Yu took the wine glass he was offered and clinked glasses with it.

"I salute you. You were the one who took the picture, not me. At most, I just gambled correctly."

Ning Hao tilted his head back and drank the wine. When he put down the glass, his eyes were a little red. It was hard to tell whether it was from the alcohol or something else.

"You know, I took the script to twelve companies, and all twelve rejected me. One company's boss read the first three pages and returned it to me, saying, 'What is this crap? Who would watch a dialect comedy?' I was standing in his office, script in hand, wanting to get angry but not daring to, because he was an investor. Later, Sister Zhong called me and said that Qianlang was willing to invest. I hung up the phone and cried in the taxi."

Liu Yu looked at him and waited for him to calm down before speaking.

"No one will reject you anymore. Your scripts will be in high demand. But remember one thing: when others are scrambling to invest, you need to be even more selective. Not all money is worth taking; some money is a good thing, and some money is a debt."

Ning Hao paused for a moment, then nodded.

The celebration banquet ended after 10 p.m.

Liu Yu was waiting for his car at the restaurant entrance when a woman walked over—Ning Hao's girlfriend, Xing Aina. She handed him a plastic bag containing two takeout containers of food.

"Ning Hao said you like the chopped chili fish head from that restaurant, so he asked me to pack one for you to take home."

Liu Yu took it; the plastic bag was still warm, and he could feel the temperature of the plate through the bag. "Thank him for me."

He said there was no need to thank him. He said he would treat him to something even better after the next film was finished.

Liu Yu got into the car and placed the two takeout containers on the passenger seat. The plastic bags swayed gently as the car drove by, making a soft, rustling sound.

On May 15th, the cumulative box office of "Stone" had exceeded 40 million.

The cinemas have adjusted the screening schedule again, extending its screenings to the end of May, which is not common for films released during the May Day holiday.

When Chung Lai-fang called, her tone was a few beats faster than usual. She said that several overseas distributors had inquired about the price, wanting to sell the film to the Southeast Asian and North American Chinese markets. The prices they offered weren't high, but for a film with a budget of five million, it was already pure profit.

After listening, Liu Yu said, "Sell when the price is right. Don't be greedy; sell when it's close to your target price. The overseas market can't support too high a premium. Every penny you can earn is a penny earned. Don't let the opportunity slip away just to negotiate a little more money."

Zhong Lifang paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, as if taking notes.

"Okay. I'll go talk to them then. Also, several media outlets want to do an exclusive interview with you and are asking if you have the time."

"What media?"

"Southern Weekly, Beijing News, Sanlian Life Weekly, and the entertainment channels of several websites. They said they wanted to talk about the investment logic of Qianlang Pictures."

Liu Yu thought for a moment, "I can book an interview with Sanlian. I'll decline the others. I'll just say that I'm busy preparing for 'Lucy' and don't have time for interviews."

At the end of May, the box office of "Crazy Stone" finally stopped at 50 million, 8 million less. In the Chinese film market of 2006, a dialect comedy film with a budget of 5 million yuan and a box office of more than 50 million yuan was already an achievement that would make everyone take notice.

The media dubbed this achievement the "Stone Phenomenon," and many articles analyzed the reasons for its success.

Some say it's because the script is well-written, some say it's because the dialect brings a sense of novelty, some say it's because the film hit the mark when audiences were tired of big-budget movies, and others say it's because Qianlang Pictures did a good job with its marketing and distribution.

Liu Yu read all these articles, but neither commented nor forwarded them.

He sat in his office, outside the window summer had arrived in Beijing, and the cicadas were starting to sing in the trees.

He recalled Ning Hao's words at the celebration banquet, the two boxes of takeout food that Xing Aina handed him, and the audience members sitting in the last row on the day of the premiere who were reluctant to leave even after the end credits rolled.

These fragments, pieced together, form a complete picture, just like a good movie should be.

On May 30th, Liu Yu sent Ning Hao a message: "When will the script for the next film be finished?"

Ning Hao replied quickly: "It's already being written."

"Send it to me when you're done writing it."

"OK."

'

Liu Yu put his phone on the table, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the ceiling.

He recalled that before his rebirth, he had read many articles about the 2006 film market. At that time, he had not yet entered the industry and was just an ordinary audience member, sitting in the cinema watching other people's films, unaware of how deep the waters of this industry were.

Now he stood in the middle of the water, having not only waded across the river but also conveniently built a bridge.

One end of this bridge connects to "Eraser" and the other end connects to "Lucy". The pier in the middle is supported by "Stone".

He didn't know how far the bridge could lead, but from what he could see, those who stepped onto it were moving forward.

In early June, before the buzz surrounding "Stone" had even died down, Liu Yifei's training entered its second phase.

Sammo Hung brought in an assistant coach from Hong Kong to specifically oversee her physical training.

This man's surname is Zhou. He is in his thirties, has a buzz cut, is lean, doesn't talk much, and has sharp eyes.

He leads Liu Yifei in two sets of physical training every day: strength training in the morning and flexibility training in the afternoon.

After each task, he would record the data in a small notebook and then send it to Sammo Hung.

Liu Yu once went to the training hall to watch her train and happened to see her practicing a set of jumps followed by rolls.

She started with a running start, did a somersault in the air, and landed with her knees slightly unsteady, swaying for a moment before regaining her balance.

After she steadied herself, she looked up at Liu Yu. When she saw him standing there, she was stunned for a moment, then wiped the sweat from her face and smiled at him. Her smile was tinged with exhaustion and a little bit of embarrassment.

Coach Zhou shouted from the side, "Try it again. Tighten your core when you land, don't relax."

She did it again, and this time the landing was much more stable than before.

Coach Zhou made a note in his notebook and nodded at her.

Liu Yu walked over and handed her a bottle of water. She took it, unscrewed the cap, took a big gulp, and then wiped her mouth.

"How was your practice today?"

"It's a bit better than last week. Last week I didn't even dare to do a somersault, but now I can, though I'm still not very steady on my landing." She was still breathing heavily as she spoke, her chest rising and falling.

"Teacher Hong said your progress is faster than he expected."

"Really? He told you?" Her eyes lit up for a moment, then quickly dimmed again. "Was he saying that because he thought I'd be too nervous?"

"Teacher Hong wouldn't lie to comfort people. If he says it's fast, then it's fast."

Liu Yifei bent down, screwed on the bottle cap, and placed the water bottle on the stool next to her.

"Actually, I feel much better than at the beginning. At the beginning, I felt like I couldn't do it at all. I was so flustered and couldn't even do the most basic movements properly. Now, although I still fall, I know why I fell afterward, and I can adjust next time."

After the afternoon training session, Liu Yifei put away her protective gear and sat on a bench in the corner of the training hall to change her shoes.

As she bent down to tie her shoelaces, she caught a glimpse of Liu Yu still standing at the door, so she straightened up.

"Brother Liu, are you busy later?"

"It's nothing. What's wrong?"

"I want ice cream," she said softly, like a child testing whether an adult would agree. "I really crave something sweet after training. Do you want to come with me?"

Liu Yu leaned against the door frame and looked at her for two seconds.

"Okay. Let's go."

When they came out of the training hall, it was still bright outside. In early June, the days in Beijing were so long that it felt like nights came very slowly.

The training hall is located on a street lined with locust trees, which provide dense shade and allow you to smell the faint fragrance of locust blossoms.

Liu Yifei walked ahead, her pace neither too fast nor too slow.

She was wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black athletic shorts, with her hair tied in a ponytail. Her walking posture was quite different from when she was on the set of "Hearing Girl" six months ago.

Back then, she was exquisite, like a carefully wrapped gift, every inch just right; now she has more casualness and relaxation.

They walked down a street and stopped in front of a convenience store.

Liu Yifei went inside, bent down and picked through the freezer for a while, then came out with two mung bean popsicles.

She handed one to Liu Yu, opened another, took a bite, squinted her eyes, as if stimulated by the coolness, or as if she was enjoying it.

Two people were eating popsicles on the steps in front of a convenience store.

The sun shone obliquely from the west, casting long shadows that overlapped and then separated.

"Brother Liu, do you think I'll still look like this after I finish filming 'Lucy'?"

Liu Yu took a bite of the popsicle, and the sweet taste of mung beans melted in his mouth.

"Would you rather be the way you are now, or become someone else?"

She thought for a moment, "I wish I could stay the same as I am now, but I know that's unlikely. After filming a movie, a person's state of mind always changes."

"Change isn't necessarily a bad thing. After you change, you might discover that you have another side to you." Liu Yu folded the popsicle wrapper into a small square. "Just like this movie, you've practiced for so long. If you're still the same person after filming, then all that sweat was for nothing. You've changed, which means you haven't wasted your time."

She didn't reply, quietly finished the rest of the popsicle, then held the stick in her hand, turning it over and over to look at it for a while.

"Brother Liu, after you finish filming a movie, do you ever feel a sense of emptiness?"

"Yes. Every time we finish filming, it happens." He glanced at her, as if somewhat surprised that she would ask this question. "This feeling isn't a bad thing. It's that you've left a part of yourself in that film. It's not that you lost it, it's that you left it there. It didn't come back with you when you left, but when you watch that film again later, you'll see that part of yourself."

She didn't speak immediately after listening, but nodded after a while. "Then I want to leave a nice part in it."

"Let's go back. We have training tomorrow."

Liu Yu threw the folded wrapper into the trash can and followed her back.

After walking for a while, she suddenly turned around and said, "Brother Liu, do you think my current appearance, compared to the 'Hearing Girl'..."

Has anything changed on set?

Liu Yu thought for a moment, "It's changed."

"Has it gotten better or worse?"

"It's become clearer."

>