Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years-Chapter 430 - 422: The Judge Who Came Knocking

The birth of the crown prince was naturally a celebration for the entire group.

Old Tian swung his hand and announced that in celebration, the start-of-work red envelopes this year would be increased from five hundred to one thousand.

The group's benefits were exceptionally generous.

The annual start-of-work red envelopes alone uplifted people's spirits, making them feel nothing of the drudgery of being overworked.

Start-of-work red envelopes are given to employees when they return to their positions after the legal New Year's holiday.

However, the entire group doesn't take a vacation; some people continue working.

Especially with Zhou Xingxing's "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" releasing during the New Year, they were especially in need of manpower.

"Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" is a film produced by Zhonghao Entertainment, Feiyang Media, and Bigao Films, distributed by Zhonghao Entertainment.

With a total investment of 150 million, it was definitely a big production.

Fortunately, the box office performance was impressive; not only did it prevent Zhonghao Entertainment from losing money, but it also resulted in significant profit.

Saying it swept the holiday box office wasn't an exaggeration.

Actually, several big productions were released in this year's holiday box office.

For example, Li An's new work "Life of Pi", Feng Xiaogang's "Back to 1942", Fang Long's self-directed and self-acted "Chinese Zodiac", Liu Weiqiang's directed and Huang Xiaoming's starring "The Guillotines", and Wang Jiawei's "Grandmaster"...

Such good movies were truly sincere offerings to the audience.

However, the audience did not appreciate them.

Even with the box office explosion of Zhou Xingxing's "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons", fans were still disappointed.

No one else could perform his comedies like Zhou Xingxing.

Li An's "Life of Pi" was quite good, but unfortunately, many people didn't understand it, and everyone just thought the visuals were pretty.

Fang Long's "Chinese Zodiac" looked fine, but just fine; the brother's movies really lacked highlights.

Even the actresses in his films looked cosmetically altered.

The one who got criticized the most was Feng Xiaogang.

Fans expressed their annoyance at Feng Xiaogang for being someone reeking of money pretending to be profound.

It's like a meat-selling woman suddenly crossing her legs and choosing not to engage in romantic affairs with you, discussing national affairs instead, yet she's no Xiaofeng Xian.

What's even more infuriating is that while he plays deep, he brags about his film costing billions with box office targets of billions.

Why not just make a comedy and earn some money safely, no one needs you to have sentiment, leave that to Jiang Wen and Wang Jiawei, you just make the audience happy.

Didn't Master Tang once say, "Earning money is nothing to be ashamed of"!

Moreover, distressing themes are really unsuitable for being released during the holiday season where billions are hoping to enjoy movies for fun.

And, if it's seriously about reflecting on history, then tone down the commercial showmanship, so people will find your stance more genuine and sincere.

Wang Jiawei's "Grandmaster" looked just okay but expecting Sunglass-Wang to tell a good story is like ascending the sky.

As for Huang Xiaoming's "The Guillotines," hardly anyone even discusses it.

No one wants to discuss it.

"Back to 1942" had an investment of 210 million, and accumulated a box office of 371 million RMB.

Loss!

"Grandmaster" invested 180 million, and accumulated box office of 289 million RMB, breaking Wang Jiawei's box office record.

Loss!

"Chinese Zodiac" invested 350 million, and accumulated box office of 880 million.

Slight loss!

In fact, Fang Long's movie achieving such box office shouldn't have incurred a loss; brother has an amazing box office appeal overseas.

However, even the Miguo market couldn't save this movie.

On its debut, Miguo's box office was merely 19,200 US Dollars, and during the first weekend, it only brought in 60,000 US Dollars; all across 102 theaters in the US screened "Chinese Zodiac", with an average box office of 188 US Dollars per theater on the opening day, marking a new low for Chinese films in a single theater and the lowest for a Fang Long kung fu film in North America.

"Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" cost 150 million, and had a box office of 1.3 billion.

Big profits!

Zhonghao Entertainment not only fulfilled their promise to share additional profits with Zhou Xingxing if the box office exceeded 500 million, but also gave him an extra big red envelope.

For directors who can make money, Zhonghao Entertainment is never stingy.

This also motivated directors collaborating with the company to actively make films.

Wu Jing secluded himself to work on "Wolf Warrior" script.

Lu Yang started casting for "Brocade Spring Saber".

Chen Sicheng has already gone to Thailand to start shooting "Detective Chinatown".

Xue Xiaolu's self-directed and self-written "Beijing Meets Seattle" has started shooting.

Additionally, many literary films have begun entering production stages.

"You mean...you're not going to shoot 'Lost in Hong Kong'?"

Just as Qi Hao started working, someone approached him.

"Yes, the script is not perfect yet."

Ye Weimin nodded heavily, even though his mainland box office championship had not been lost, seeing others breaking the 1 billion mark repeatedly, he knew he didn't have much time left.

"Actually, Old Ye, not every movie has to be a classic, ups and downs are normal, no one can break their own previous records every time."

Qi Hao offered some comfort.

"I understand, I simply changed my mindset, during the New Year when drinking with Big Dog Brother..."

Big Dog Brother is Li Ming, the boss of Xiao Ma Ben Teng.

In the company and film industry, because of his righteous nature, friends and employees affectionately called him "Big Dog Brother".

Ye Weimin and Li Ming originally had no relation whatsoever.

However, the entertainment industry is small.

Everyone, to some extent, integrated into Qi Hao's social circle.

Ye Weimin complained at the dinner table about how much pressure he was under now, worrying so much about "Jiong 3" that his hair was almost falling out.

Then Ning Hao at the same table said he had an idea.

The two chatted for a while and even left the table midway, going to a private room next door, turning a public joy into a private talk.

"You mean, you want to use his idea, directly incorporate it into 'Jiong 3', and then you two collaborate as the director and writer?"

Qi Hao was amazed, could it really be operated this way?

"Yes, in fact, my idea is for him to be the director of 'Jiong 3', he says it's an idea, but the story is actually very mature, I guess he already has a perfect script."

Ye Weimin didn't mind sharing his personal IP with others.

"And what about you?"

Qi Hao didn't really care how they operated, Ning Hao was a top-tier director.

Whether in terms of box office or reputation, he belongs to the first tier.

"I'll continue researching 'Lost in Hong Kong'."

Ye Weimin said matter-of-factly, he wasn't neglecting his Jiong series IP.

However, he couldn't write a satisfactory script for the time being.

Moreover, both the quality of Ning Hao's work and the story he presented deserved to be part of the Jiong series IP.

This is a win-win situation.

Ning Hao wanted to leverage the popularity and reputation of the Jiong series to package his story for a good price.

Meanwhile, Ye Weimin wanted to maintain the heat of the Jiong series IP to give himself enough time for creative work.

"In principle, there's no problem, you all can discuss it yourselves."

Qi Hao didn't even ask about production costs, now such matters were too trivial for him.

He was recently working for the Capital International Film Festival.

Qi Hao originally wanted to be a judge at the University Student Film Festival, but now the University Student Film Festival had been annexed by the Capital International Film Festival; the University Student Film Festival is an important part of the Capital International Film Festival, present as its subunit.

Therefore, he was intercepted by the Capital International Film Festival. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Previously, the Capital International Film Festival was just a platform for exchanges and transactions, but starting this year, it also had award-presenting and judging functions.

Starting April 17, 2013, 15 domestic and foreign films will compete for the "Tiantan Award" of 10 categories.

Qi Hao was a delivered-on-the-doorstep judge.

Though he was young, he had won the Golden Horse Award for Best Director and was Venice International Film Festival Best Actor, making him well-qualified to be a judge.

The University Student Film Festival was furious yet dared not speak.

Qi Hao couldn't refuse.

In this world, you need to have background and influence when venturing out, evidently, Capital International Film Festival was higher and stronger.