Chapter 117 Blocking the Media
“It was impossible to get a ticket for the Premiere of 'those years,' and Li Chen's big-screen debut received praise from local media.”
“Yifei made her first red-carpet appearance, attracting the favor of Gucci.”
“The beautiful scenery of Yunnan has attracted local college student fans, potentially sparking a wave of tourism to Yunnan, China.”
“The overseas rights for 'those years' sold for a high price, possibly exceeding 'painted skin.'”
The domestic entertainment industry was stunned early in the morning by several eye-catching headlines on Sina's website.
Is it true or false?
'those years,' a youth campus film, actually sold for an exorbitant price!
Yifei walked the red carpet and connected with a high-end brand.
How come high-end brands are so casual when choosing spokespersons or brand ambassadors now?
Below Yifei's blog were the beautiful photos she shared from Berlin over the past few days.
Yifei's fans left comments on her blog.
“Xixi is so beautiful, she seems a little different, but still beautiful!”
“Xixi wouldn't really get together with Li Chen, would she? Oh my god, I feel like I'm a little short of breath!”
“You are mine!”
The domestic news was reported to Yang Siwei immediately.
Yang Siwei was puzzled and called Yifei.
“Yifei, when did you get in touch with Gucci? How come I don't know anything about it?”
“No, it's just within their consideration. Do you remember what happened last year at the Gucci store in Hollywood?”
“How could I not remember? The boss emptied the entire store for you.”
After hanging up the phone, Yang Siwei secretly chuckled.
The boss is the boss. An unintentional act actually got Yifei the attention of Gucci.
It turned out that Li Chen had bought all the clothes in the entire Gucci store for Yifei in Hollywood last Time.
This caught the attention of a senior executive who was inspecting the Gucci store at the Time.
After an investigation, they learned that Yifei was a rising star actress in China.
Of course, this was not enough to garner Gucci's attention.
However, Yifei's two stunning appearances on the Berlin red carpet, coupled with her relationship with Li Chen, led Gucci to predict that Yifei would surely be a frequent guest on international film festival red carpets in the future.
Coupled with Yifei's beautiful face and her two outstanding fashion choices, Gucci included Yifei in the scope of consideration for a spokesperson.
Gucci contacted Yifei's Red Star House.
Yifei's agent felt that since Yifei was in Berlin, he released the news to the media to build momentum for her.
Li Chen didn't pay attention to the online discussions.
Over the next two days, Yang Siwei haggled with the film distributors.
Yifei and her Mother, along with Tang Yan, toured Berlin together.
Li Chen and Andy Lau were also busy, continuing to watch films to compare with 'buried.'
In the last two days, in the scores published in the official magazine 'Screen,'
'The Road to Guantanamo' and 'A Prairie Home Companion' directed by Robert Altman received the highest scores.
'buried' ranked ninth, and the score for 'isabella' from Hong Kong was unknown because the magazine stopped publishing on the 17th.
However, according to film critics in a major German newspaper, 'isabella' ranked last.
But none of this means anything.
Whether there will be an award or not depends on whether they receive a notification from the organizing committee a few hours before the red carpet of the awards ceremony.
On the 18th local Time, because the Berlin Film Festival canceled the press conference,
reporters could only get first-hand information from the film crews.
Andy Lau was as anxious as the reporters. Although 'buried' was a Hollywood production,
Chiyou Films was invested by Chinese people, and 'buried' starred Chinese superstar Andy Lau.
Domestic reporters paid more attention to 'buried' than to 'isabella.'
Unfortunately, even two hours before the awards ceremony, Li Chen did not receive a phone call notification from the organizing committee.
It seems they will truly return empty-handed this Time.
“Boss, don't pay attention to these Germans. It's obvious they are strongly promoting their local newcomers this Time,” Tim said, a bit angry, feeling indignant for Li Chen.
In major German newspapers, the top three films ranked by film critics were all local films. Doesn't this explain the problem?
Li Chen smiled and said, “Tim, I'm not so narrow-minded as to be upset over an award. I just feel a bit sorry for Andy Lau.”
“Since there's no award for us, we can go home. You also go back to Hollywood and finish the casting for 'the thieves' as soon as possible.”
Tim said seriously, “I understand, Boss.”
The stone in Andy Lau's heart finally dropped. The awards ceremony had already started, which meant that 'buried' was truly buried.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed.
Having come this far, who wouldn't want to go further?
The phone rang; it was Li Chen.
“Li Chen, you were right.”
The media called Li Chen and Andy Lau one after another.
Their responses to the media were similar, but their personal states were intriguing.
Li Chen seemed completely unfazed by any disappointment. When the media asked if he would return to Berlin next Time after coming back empty-handed this Time,
Li Chen smiled and said, “The film festival isn't held for one person. If I won an award at every film festival, who would still come to the film festival?”
Andy Lau: “Actually, I'm already very happy to be nominated. After all, our film 'buried' was made in such a hurry.”
The next morning, the awards were announced last night.
As expected, from the Golden Bear to the Best Actor and Actress, all were local German films.
'isabella' from Hong Kong did win a minor award for Best Music.
Li Chen's 'buried' received nothing.
Domestic media reported the news immediately.
“Li Chen Fails in Berlin, Mood Unaffected.”
“Berlin Film Festival's Local Filmmakers Win Big!”
“Andy Lau's First Expedition to Berlin: Gained Momentum, Lost Awards.”
Domestic netizens complained one after another: When did the Golden Rooster Awards Film Festival move to Berlin?
The Golden Rooster Awards organizing committee was caught in the crossfire while sitting down.
Dieter Kosslick saw Li Chen's comments to the media.
He even called Li Chen specifically to thank him repeatedly for understanding his difficulties.
Kosslick also said that Berlin did not have a Best Screenplay award; otherwise, this award would definitely have gone to Li Chen.
Li Chen and his entourage did not stay in Berlin and flew back to China together.
Domestic media had already waited at the airport, hoping to get first-hand information.
Unfortunately, Li Chen directly transferred to Tianjin to visit the 'ip man' film crew, leaving the reporters empty-handed.
At the same Time, Song Da Zui jumped out to disgust people again.
Song Da Zui dared not provoke Rongchen Film and Television again, but why would he be afraid of Yifei?
His code of conduct was to spray whoever was popular until he became popular too.
In short, he didn't follow the usual path, only crooked ways.
The right path is to become famous through works, the crooked path is through hype.
Song Da Zui's perversity was not insignificant.
He directly told the media that Yifei was a transvestite, a transsexual.
Everyone didn't take this matter seriously, including Yifei and Yang Siwei.
Yifei only posted on her blog as a response.
“I don't want to respond to this person too much. His goal is to make you respond and continue to hype. It's boring.”
Yifei's fans, of course, strongly supported Yifei.
Li Chen also paid attention to Yifei's blog in the hotel.
He called Yang Siwei.
Yang Siwei was still somewhat indifferent; in her opinion, this was simply nonsense.
As Yifei said, there's no need to respond to him; the more you acknowledge him, the more energized he becomes.
But Li Chen knew that this storm might escalate, eventually becoming uncontrollable and forcing Miss Liu to appear on 'Today's Law' again.
“Siwei, your reaction disappoints me! You know the golden forty-eight hours of crisis public relations better than anyone.”
“It's understandable that Xixi and her Red Star House team reacted slowly or didn't react at all!”
“You, a top student from Communication University of China? The publicity director of Rongchen Film and Television? How do you do things?!”
Slap!
The phone was hung up!
Yang Siwei's heart pounded. It was the first Time she saw the boss lose his temper and hang up on her directly.
Yang Siwei instantly broke out in a cold sweat, her mind clearer than ever.
It seemed that this Song Da Zui had stepped on the boss's reverse scale. Perhaps even if someone spread rumors about the boss, he wouldn't get so angry.
But when it involved the boss's wife, the boss's tone was so cold it could freeze an elephant!
Even over the phone, she shivered!
Yang Siwei dared not delay any longer, she got up and rushed out the door.
She arrived at Yifei's villa.
Liu Xiaoli and her Mother were a bit surprised that Yang Siwei came so late.
After Yang Siwei sat down, she explained her purpose.
“Auntie, Yifei, I'm sorry to bother you so late. That person surnamed Song on the internet is biting Yifei again. Yifei doesn't need to respond to this anymore; leave it to me.”
Yang Siwei's serious expression made Liu's Mother and Yifei somewhat indifferent.
“Siwei, what's wrong? You came so late just to talk about this? Did Li Chen scold you? It's okay, I'll call him!”
Yifei said, about to call Li Chen.
“No, Yifei! The boss is right about this; I was careless! This kind of hype using transsexuality is not ordinary gossip or scandal.”
“If not handled well, it could turn into a scandal. At that Time, all your endorsements and the hard-won attention from Gucci, Yifei, might all go down the drain.”
Yang Siwei's words startled both the Mother and daughter. Is it that exaggerated?
“Little Yang, is it that serious?” Liu's Mother felt that Yang Siwei was overstating things.
“Auntie, trust me, I'm from the Communication University of China. I know the risks involved better than anyone. I was careless before!”
On the way there, the more Yang Siwei thought about it, the more she feared. This is the age of the internet.
It's very possible that a single post, a blog entry, or an inconspicuous headline could stir up a storm.
Moreover, Yifei is currently the most popular female artist.
It's no exaggeration to say she's the public enemy of all female artists.
If it weren't for the boss, this stabilizing force, backing them, Yifei's company and team would have been finished sooner or later.
Yang Siwei's seriousness today made Liu Xiaoli unable to say anything more.
After all, she came late at night for her daughter.
“Well, Little Yang, how should we cooperate with you?”
“Auntie, you don't need to worry. I only need two things. Yifei's birth certificate from a hospital in mainland China and a few childhood photos of Yifei. Videos would be best.”
“That's easy. I can give them to you now.”
After getting the items, Yang Siwei left in a hurry again.
Yifei and her Mother exchanged glances, then quickly ran back to the bedroom and called Li Chen.
The call connected quickly.
“Did you yell at Siwei?” Yifei demanded fiercely from her boyfriend.
“How could I yell at her? I just tightened her screws a bit. She's been a bit too complacent lately, and her reactions have been slow!” Li Chen had just finished showering, lying on the bed in his bathrobe with the speakerphone on.
“Why did you yell at her? Siwei is very good to me, and is it necessary to pay attention to that person?”
“Xixi, I wouldn't harm you. You don't need to worry about these things. Go to bed early. Tomorrow, I'll meet with Ning Hao and then return to Beijing.”
Li Chen didn't want to explain too much to Miss Liu; some things are too pale to explain now, as many things haven't happened yet.
Miss Liu also wouldn't understand.
Song Da Zui's little schemes couldn't hide from discerning eyes at all.
His film 'Yang Decai's Marriage Proposal' wasn't getting any attention, so he just latched on.
After latching onto Li Yuchun and super girl, he then latched onto Chen Kaige and 'The Promise.'
If no one paid attention, he would continue to play music and latch on. Now he's latched onto Miss Liu and 'those years.'
Yifei also couldn't bear to throw a tantrum at her boyfriend anymore. After all, Li Chen was angry with Yang Siwei because of her.
In front of Yang Siwei, she could side with Yang Siwei, but now that it was just her and Li Chen, she knew where her loyalties lay.
On the other side, Yang Siwei had already summoned her four top assistants to the company.
The next morning, a short essay on Tianya Forum was widely reposted.
The general content was as follows: Yifei's birthplace and her experiences from childhood to adulthood.
Attached were her Hubei hospital birth certificate and some life photos.
In the gender column of the birth certificate, there was a clear word: Female!
This was very telling, and the rumors of her being transgender collapsed on their own.
Soon, the post's popularity fermented and made it to Sina's headlines.
The 'netizens' cursed Song Da Zui for being utterly immoral!
He truly stops at nothing for hype! To even fabricate such a rumor.
“He's so damn shameless! For his 'Yang Decai's Marriage Proposal,' he truly has no bottom line or limits!”
“Does he have any shame? I feel sorry for Teacher Pan Changjiang, how could he cooperate with such a person!”
“I originally wanted to go see Teacher Pan Changjiang's movie, but now I'm successfully dissuaded.”
Immediately after, Yang Siwei, representing Rongchen Film and Television, issued a statement.
“Rongchen Film and Television will no longer respond to any hype news related to Song Da Zui.”
“In the future, Rongchen Film and Television will no longer accept any interviews from media outlets that cooperate with Song Da Zui's hype.”
“Rongchen Film and Television reserves the right to pursue legal action against Song Da Zui for spreading rumors about Yifei, which has caused negative impact and losses to the film 'those years'!”
As soon as Yang Siwei's statement was issued, it not only surprised many people in the industry,
but even fellow professionals Wang Jinghua and Li Xue were left with their jaws dropped!
They had only seen artists being blacklisted before!
This was the first Time they saw a company dare to blacklist media outlets!
Although such a soft ban might not work and could even backfire,
such boldness could only come from Rongchen Film and Television!
At this moment, Song Da Zui's face was as green as a cucumber!
He had only thrown the first punch of his series of attacks, and why did Rongchen Film and Television jump out again!
I haven't even gone on the show yet!