Chapter 216: Another Bloody Case for “The Sun”
Gu Yongkeng called Li Chen; Youku’s third round of financing had begun.
Li Chen and Wang Jianlin would undoubtedly follow suit.
Youku was currently on a roll, and even Wang Changtian wouldn't fall behind.
Li Chen and Gu Yongkeng kept him in suspense.
He told him that he would give him a surprise by next year at the latest.
In fact, Gu Yongkeng had already vaguely sensed it.
Ever since “soldiers sortie” became popular on Youku,
He had seen one thing: long-form video would be the main battlefield for video websites in the future.
And the copyright war that Li Chen had predicted to him years ago would inevitably become a life-and-death struggle.
Then, Rongchen Film and Television, holding countless copyrights, would be the key to deciding this life-and-death battle.
Gu Yongkeng only hoped that when that day came, Li Chen’s asking price wouldn't be too high!
After the National Day, “assembly” and “the warlords” both began to exert their strength.
Press releases and news flew everywhere.
Fan Bingbing’s “apple” also began to secretly make efforts.
The Premiere would be held in Hong Kong at the end of the month, first showing in Hong Kong.
The release date in mainland China was set for the last day of November.
Although Yang Mi’s “Wang Zhaojun” had ordinary ratings, its reputation was quite good.
Yang Mi herself once again became the focus of netizens, with her acting skills receiving mixed reviews.
“The Sun” was abandoned by cinemas collectively less than two weeks after its release, with a total box office of 15.2 million in mainland China.
This film, with an announced investment of ten million US dollars, was far more than just a box office flop.
Sina Entertainment News
“Another ‘Bloody Case’ after ‘moutou’ – Jiang Wen encounters Chen Kaige’s embarrassment!”
Southern Weekend News
“‘The Sun’ follows in the footsteps of ‘The Promise’!”
It turned out that recently, a 21-minute and 39-second parody video titled “The ‘Butt’ Bloody Case” appeared online.
The content was a parody of “The Sun”.
Because the author claimed to be Hu Ge and displayed “Special Thanks to Hu Ge’s Cousin” at the end of the film,
Many people thought this video also came from Hu Ge.
Hu Ge quickly came out to speak: “Many reporters came to ask me today; it was definitely not me, I haven’t even seen it!”
However, unlike Chen Kaige and Han Sanping’s furious reaction to “moutou” back then,
Jiang Wen and Yu Dong both just laughed it off.
In Beijing, the “forever enthralled” film crew.
The actors found that Director Chen was not in a good state today.
That day, when Director Li won the Golden Lion, Director Chen was merely distracted.
Today, Director Chen was clearly like a live volcano, capable of erupting at any moment.
Even a simple line of dialogue between Zhang Ziyi and Chen Hong, “The door is open,”
Chen Hong and Zhang Ziyi were called to a halt more than ten times.
Director Chen didn't make many demands on his wife, Chen Hong.
He was only somewhat nitpicky with Zhang Ziyi: “More sour! Even more sour!”
Everyone on the film crew, including Leon Lai, pretended not to see.
Although Zhang Ziyi had a significant status and temper, it depended on whom she encountered.
When encountering a big director like Chen Kaige, she also had to obediently listen.
She simply didn't have the same speaking power on set as international superstars like Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Compared to the so-called big names in Hong Kong, she also lacked confidence.
Back home, Director Chen could no longer hold it in, breathing heavily.
After gulping down some water, Chen Kaige began to vent to his wife.
“Everything can be linked to ‘The Promise’! These reporters have nothing to do all day!”
“Damn it! So annoying!”
Chen Kaige couldn't even swear; this was the limit of his rage.
Jiang Wen’s “The Sun” flopped, and reporters called him for interviews!
Chen Hong silently walked behind her husband, gently stroking his heaving back.
“Alright, don’t be angry. Reporters are the same everywhere. If you were a nobody, they wouldn’t surround you.”
Chen Kaige was still breathing heavily, turning to look at his gentle wife: “But they are too much!”
“They always bring up ‘The Promise’ for no reason, as if I, Chen Kaige, have only made one movie, ‘The Promise’!”
Chen Hong smiled slightly, buried her head in her husband’s chest, wrapped her arms around her old baby’s waist, and continued to gently comfort her husband.
“Didn’t you also say that ‘The Promise’ would take five or ten years to understand? They will understand in ten years.”
Chen Kaige was still not appeased: “I think they might not understand even in a hundred years.”
Chen Hong also got angry, suddenly pushing her husband away: “That’s enough, are you never going to stop?”
The line ‘The door is open’ was called to a halt more than ten times.
Zhang Ziyi didn’t say she was tired, but she was tired from walking.
She was already full of anger and had comforted her husband for a long time.
Still like this, does he really think Li Chen's mother doesn't have menopause!
His wife’s sudden outburst startled Chen Kaige.
Chen Kaige unnaturally tugged at the corner of his mouth: “Hong, what’s wrong? I’m talking about those reporters, not, not you.”
Chen Hong huffed angrily: “If you make me walk back and forth again tomorrow, don’t get into my bed; go sleep in the guest room!”
The old baby was completely deflated.
“The Sun” was parodied, and its box office flopped.
Next, Hong Kong Island also revealed that “The Sun” did not meet the requirements of the Hong Kong region.
It was not eligible to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Now “The Sun” had completely set.
“the thieves” had been released for nearly forty days, and its final box office settled at 395 million, just a step away from 400 million.
But it really couldn't go any higher, so Han Sanping and Li Chen discussed taking it off the screens.
Li Chen naturally had no objections.
A week later, “the thieves” held a grand celebration banquet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
Several major investors, China Film Group Corporation, Shanghai Film Group, Wanda, Enlight Media, as well as Tim from Chiyou and Richard from Warner, all attended.
A group of lead actors, including Charlize Theron and Monica Bellucci, also traveled thousands of miles to celebrate.
Liu Yifei and Li Chen's two film crews took a day off.
Li Chen, along with the artists from Rongchen Film and Television, and Yang Siwei and Deng Chao, the two generals of Yixin Media, arrived at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse one after another.
As soon as they got out of the car, Yang Siwei poked her head out of the black Mercedes behind: “Boss, wait for us.”
Li Chen and the others, who had gotten out of the car, looked back and saw Yang Siwei and Deng Chao walking towards them with smiles on their faces.
Li Chen couldn't help but tease: “Siwei, you chose a good dress today, it makes you look slim!”
The women around couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh.
Yang Siwei rolled her eyes: “Boss, it’s the first time someone has complimented my dress.”
“It seems that ever since I grew up, no one has ever complimented me on anything I wear!”
Yang Mi stepped forward and linked arms with Yang Siwei: “Alright, General Manager Yang, look at how badly my Wang Zhaojun has been criticized.”
“I also feel now that no matter what I act in, or how I act, someone always criticizes me!”
Both sides of the red carpet were filled with fans waving flowers and posters.
However, most of them were shouting Liu Yifei’s name.
The group walked onto the red carpet, chatting and laughing, either waving to the fans on both sides or posing for media cameras.
Li Chen, hearing Yang Mi say this, comforted her.
“Mi Mi, if you want to be popular, it will definitely be accompanied by both applause and boos.”
“Xixi and Fan Bingbing are considered the hottest female stars now, right?”
“But if you look back, when they were popular, it wasn’t just flowers; there were plenty of rotten eggs too!”
Yang Mi then linked arms with Liu Yifei next to her and smiled: “That was before. Ever since Yifei and Senior Brother got together, besides a few lunatics, who would dare throw rotten eggs at Yifei?”
“Then Senior Brother, wouldn't you throw purple yuan eggs at him!”
Zhou Xun, Tang Yan, and Zhu Yawen all gave Yang Mi a thumbs up: “Mi Mi is brilliant!”
Liu Yifei linked arms with Li Chen, a smile on her face, saying nothing.
Clearly, Yang Mi’s flattery had tickled her fancy.
Li Chen smiled: “What I mean by saying this is to tell you that if you want to be popular, this is an inevitable process.”
“In the entertainment industry, it’s not scary to have people criticize you. If many people criticize you, it means many people are paying attention to you, which is a prerequisite for becoming very popular!”
“Your psychological endurance still needs to improve.”
“To be fair, look at Xixi and Fan Bingbing; their psychological endurance is among the best among female stars.”
“For so many years, one is Buddhist, letting you spread rumors and insult her, and she just ignores you, treating you as air.” Li Chen smiled at Miss Liu, whose face was flushed with spring.
“The other, on the other hand, goes all out, doing plastic surgery appraisals and frequently sending lawyer’s letters.”
Li Chen hadn’t finished speaking when Zhou Xun couldn’t help but interject: “Yifei is indeed Buddhist, but Director Li, you go all out for Yifei.”