Chapter 175: The Battle for the Headlines
After one month in theaters, genius gunner achieved a final box office of 150 million in mainland China and 32 million in Hong Kong.
The box office results across Asia were impressive.
Starting in December, genius gunner began its staggered release in Europe and the US.
Tang Yan and the cast started their promotional tour across Europe and the US with the film crew.
so young grossed over 75 million in its first week, making it a sure bet to break 100 million.
However, battle of wits barely surpassed 30 million, guaranteeing a significant loss.
By this point, Rongchen Film and Television's total mainland box office for films released this year was almost certain to exceed one billion.
As of November, the total mainland box office for Chinese films this year was only 2.4 billion.
Rongchen Film and Television alone accounted for 40% of the national total box office.
Without these statistics, people didn't think much of it.
But once the numbers were tallied, netizens were all amazed.
“Oh my goodness, Xiao Li Zi is truly formidable; he alone supports half of the Chinese film industry!”
“lost in thailand and those years alone brought in 500 million, while Lei Luo worked his whole life and only became a 500 million Inspector!”
“Xiao Li Zi wrote two scripts, acted in a few scenes, and put Lei Laohu in his place!”
“From now on, we won't even know Han, let alone Wei and Jin!”
The employees of Rongchen Film and Television were all overjoyed; when they saw their boss, Li Chen, their smiles radiated from the bottom of their hearts.
The higher the company's profits, the higher their bonuses would be.
Yang Mi was the most frustrated; although so young had high box office.
Compared to the other two youth films, those years and genius gunner.
The word-of-mouth for so young paled in comparison.
She also failed to achieve instant stardom!
The netizens' comment about her face resembling a 'tender beef five-square' made her so frustrated she wanted to vomit blood.
As soon as Li Chen sat down in his office, Yang Mi and Yang Siwei entered.
“Senior, does my face really look like a tender beef five-square?”
Li Chen suppressed a smile: “Don't listen to netizens' nonsense. In another ten years, the industry will be full of V-shaped faces; your face shape will be a rare species!”
Yang Mi mumbled with a bitter expression: “Rare species? Why does that sound so…unpleasant!”
“You need to have confidence in yourself, Mi Mi. With your curves and long legs, I'm envious, and you're still not confident.” Yang Siwei said in a huff.
Li Chen also smiled. Fortunately, in so young, Li Chen didn't include the chest-touching scene in the script.
With Da Mi Mi's figure, unless she severely bound her chest, it would never be small.
“What do you two need?”
Yang Siwei smiled and handed Li Chen an invitation.
Li Chen took it and looked: “Internet Gala?”
Yang Siwei nodded: “Cao Dong specifically asked me to deliver it to you personally.”
“He said if you don't come, he'll call you himself.”
“He also asked me to tell you to bring Yifei along; she was voted the Most Popular Award winner by Sina netizens.”
Yang Mi sighed softly: “When will I get my first award!”
Li Chen glanced at her and said with a smile: “Within three years, you'll be winning so many awards your hands will be soft.”
“Stop complaining. Use this time to discuss acting more with your teachers.”
“Alright, I understand. You two can leave now.”
Liu Yifei also received an invitation from Sina.
Liu Yifei called Li Chen immediately to tell him about it.
Ma Chucheng from Hong Kong also contacted Red Star House.
He invited her and Louis Koo to star in The Butterfly Lovers, hoping she would play Zhu Yingtai.
Li Chen chuckled: “How could you have time next year? Why even ask?”
“So, are we going to the Internet Gala?”
“It depends. If we have time, we'll go support Cao Guowei. After all, it's the first grand event since he took charge of Sina.”
While talking on the phone with Miss Liu, Li Chen scanned the charts online.
Megga's the message finally began serialization in People's Literature, and Li Chen immediately called Wu Bin.
Liu Lianzi's empresses in the palace also finished its first part.
Ning Hao led the ip man crew on a promotional tour across Asia, with the first stop being Hong Kong.
Starting in December, the headlines of portal websites were basically dominated by curse of the golden flower.
Every day was different; today it was “curse of the golden flower Signs Agreement to Prevent Box Office Manipulation, Accused of Unfair Terms.”
Tomorrow it would be “Chow Yun-fat's curse of the golden flower Poster Revealed.”
The day after, “Gong Li's curse of the golden flower Poster Revealed.”
Then it was Jay Chou's turn.
And then Liu Ye.
And so on, constantly coming up with new tricks every day.
Tony Leung's confession of pain, which also premiered in December, was given no room at all.
It wasn't until Rongchen Film and Television's film slate plan was released that it finally reclaimed the headlines that curse of the golden flower had monopolized for a week.
Sina Entertainment News
“Yesterday, Rongchen Film and Television's publicity director, Yang Siwei, announced Rongchen Film and Television's film slate plan for 2007.”
“draw the bow, Dad, an Olympic tribute film, tentatively scheduled for release on August 21, 2008.”
“father's love is like a mountain Sequel, a crime drama, expected to be released in the second half of 2007.”
“pieta, a restricted-rated drama, expected for global release in the second half of 2007.”
“the message, a mainstream drama, the specific release date will be announced after confirmation with relevant departments.”
As soon as the film slate was released, it immediately dominated the headlines of major portal websites.
“Counting painted skin 2, ip man, and china partner, there will be at least six or seven more in '07! Xiao Li Zi's efficiency is truly high.”
“the message? Mainstream? Is Xiao Li Zi trying to annoy the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival?”
“I'm really looking forward to what kind of mainstream film this will be? Let's see what tricks Xiao Li Zi can pull off. If it's not good, I'll still curse it!”
“pieta is probably Maggie Cheung's film, right? Restricted-rated? Not released in mainland China?”
“Olympic tribute film, the one Yifei was in closed training for? Why won't it be released until '08?”
Han Sanping, who had just finished his call with Li Chen, was in an indescribable mood!
How many of these film slate plans could China Film Group Corporation invest in?
Besides the message, they could at most take a small share in the other two. No wonder that kid agreed so readily that day!
Turns out there weren't many he could invest in!
Moreover, he wasn't optimistic about the message either; mainstream films were all the same no matter who made them.
In the end, box office arrangements would inevitably be made! It would most likely lose money!
Zhang Weiping was seething with anger; Li Chen was everywhere.
curse of the golden flower is about to be released, and you pull this stunt on me!
But Li Chen's actions weren't over; a cross-industry financing news story once again grabbed the limited space on the entertainment section.
Sina Entertainment News
“Recently, video-sharing website Youku announced it had completed 12 million USD in financing.”
“This investment was jointly participated by three institutions: Sutter Hill Ventures, the oldest venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, Farallon Capital, one of the world's largest investment funds, and the local Chinese Hantang Fund.”
Youku was the first micro-video user service platform in China.
It launched its public beta in June of this year.
In less than half a year, it has rapidly developed into China's leading video-sharing website and most active video interactive community.
As soon as the news broke, most people in the entertainment industry were bewildered.