Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 266: Category A film festivals also have to compete for the top spot!
April 3rd, 3pm.

Call from Beijing Geological Auditorium.

"The attendance rate of Westward Journey is less than 10% and it is ready to be released."

3:23pm.

Sichuan Film Corporation called.

"Westward Journey has received a lot of negative reviews, and the attendance rate is less than 8%."

At four o'clock in the afternoon.

Liao Province, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi.
Film companies from a total of eight provinces requested the release of Westward Journey.

In the conference room of Beijing Film Studio, people from the distribution department reported on the screening status of Westward Journey today.

After Zhou Xingxing and others listened, they were all ashamed and angry and didn't know how to face it.

Chen Shiping and Zhongchuan’s publicity team were not too surprised by this.

In their expectation, starting from the third day, the attendance rate of Westward Journey will continue to plummet.

But they have already prepared strategies to deal with it.

This is the time to teach them how to understand this movie.

Through the effect of opinion leaders, we begin to comprehensively interpret the plot, characters, themes, etc. in the movie.

At the same time, we should also start publishing articles about youth, graduation, dreams, reality, and love in major media and newspapers.

Draw everyone into specific emotions and situations through public opinion.

Therefore, Chen Shiping rejected all requests from major theater companies.

However, the filming rate of Westward Journey can be lowered, but one must be guaranteed to be reserved for prime time.

The film scheduling rate of all theater chains across the country cannot be less than 5%.

When making money, Director Chen should give more copies to everyone.

If the movie doesn't make money, it must be released, and theater chains can't deny Chen Shiping any respect!
After replying to provincial and municipal theater chains, Beijing Film Studio's publicity and distribution team also began to promote subsequent plans.

On April 4, many daily newspapers in various provinces and cities simultaneously reprinted an article written by Chen Shiping about Westward Journey.

At the same time, the topic of college graduates has also become the focus of media attention.

In the evening of the same day, theaters in various provinces and cities called back to Beijing Film Studio, and the attendance rate of Westward Journey has rebounded.

On April 5, many media outlets across the country published articles about their impressions of Westward Journey by college students from various universities across the country.

In the afternoon of the same day, statistics from theaters in various provinces and cities found that the attendance and positive reviews of Westward Journey had increased, and a considerable proportion of viewers chose to watch the movie again.

On April 5, a college student from the Tsinghua University School of Liberal Arts published an article about graduation season, which is also the breakup season, and it was reprinted by Beijing Daily and many media.

On April 6, articles and poems about youth, reality, love, and dreams began to appear frequently in many media magazines.

On April 7, related topics began to be discussed heatedly among college students.

On April 8, the content of Chen Shiping's student exchange meeting at Beijing Normal University and Nortel was reprinted by many media.

At the exchange meeting, Chen Shiping repeatedly used Journey to the West as an example to express his views on the graduation season and the college student community.

On April 9, many media outlets across the country published related submissions such as Do You Remember Yourself in College? How would you rate the Supreme Treasure and Monkey King in Westward Journey?

April 10
In the director's office of Xiying Film Studio, Director Li was reading the newspaper, trying to find out something from Chen Shiping's film reviews.

Today, several movie theaters in XA City called, saying that the attendance of Westward Journey has risen to 70% and continues to grow.

Why did the box office performance of a bad movie suddenly improve?

The key is that the evaluation of Westward Journey is getting higher and higher.

From the beginning of cultural garbage to now becoming a masterpiece sought after by young people, what happened in the middle.

Only Chen Shiping initially published a review about Westward Journey, and later there were not many touting reviews about Westward Journey.

There were no cultural celebrities or film critics involved, just some college students who wrote a few film reviews.

How come the reputation suddenly reversed!

"Is it possible that Westward Journey is really good? Is it because we are old and can't understand it?"

Director Li fell into self-doubt and couldn't figure out the problem.

There are many people who also don’t understand.

Especially people from various provincial and municipal theaters had no idea how Westward Journey suddenly changed for the better after being scolded by the audience at the beginning.

The current attendance rate has increased a bit ridiculously, and the originally reduced film schedule is not enough.

Now I can only add the slices back in!

At this time, the team behind the scenes who controlled all this couldn't help but feel happy when they saw this situation.

But the person who passed the ball was a little flustered when he smiled.

Because they find what they are doing now a bit scary.

Invisibly manipulating public opinion, changing public perception, and forcibly turning a not-so-good movie into a cultural trend and symbol.

The most important thing is that they realize that the current domestic media are doing the same thing as them intentionally or unintentionally in some aspects.

Such as Yilin, readers, bosom friends, etc.

It’s just that the guidance is different!

People in the center think this is a very serious problem.

Nowadays, Westward Journey's reputation and social discussion have slowly and spontaneously become enthusiastic.

There is no need for too much guidance. The Zhongchuan team only left two PhD supervisors at Beijing Film Studio, and the rest have all left.

When leaving, I thanked Chen Shiping for giving them a chance to practice.

Chen Shiping felt that they were going to do something big.

But he didn't ask too much. Basic education in China is actually doing very well.

Especially the education aspect of Loving Home is very good!

Given the country’s population base, it is not surprising that there are a few people who don’t love their families very much.

In the future, those born in the 1990s and 2000s will teach them how to behave.

Chen Shiping still needs to sort out the results and experiences from this time.

It will be useful for external use in the future!

The factory's investment direction in various external regions must also be adjusted.

We also need to invest more in media!

In the following days, Westward Journey's attendance and film schedule continued to grow, and its box office naturally began to grow.

Zhou Xingxing and Liu Zhenwei were both laughing from ear to ear!
Just say that what I photographed is not cultural garbage!

It's because everyone didn't understand that what they were missing was a Bole!

Chen Shiping is that Bole!

They watched how Chen Shiping turned around the reputation of Westward Journey!

This is so awesome!
Movie promotion can be so fun!
Zhou Xingxing and Liu Zhenwei suddenly felt that those movies in the industry that were still relying on the fame of directors and stars or gossip and scandals were not up to par!

It’s so childish!
With the reversal of word-of-mouth, the box office has gradually increased.

The box office of Westward Journey Part 1 and Part 2 has exceeded 40 million in mainland China, and it may be able to reach 60 to 70 million by the time it is released.

Such box office results are enough to recoup the investment and make a small profit.

You can also sell VCDs later to earn more profits.

In Chen Shiping's plan, Westward Journey's VCD is the main source of profit.

But the problem now is to prepare VCD sales quickly and strive to launch VCD before pirates. Xiying Film Studio is already doing this.

Although they don't understand how Westward Journey can make a comeback, they also know that this is a good opportunity to make money.

Chen Shiping also completely relaxed at this time, and took his two doctoral supervisors from Zhongchuan to drink tea together every day to discuss some knowledge of communication.

A person will encounter many problems when reading and studying alone.

But a few days later, Westward Journey was released, and the two doctoral supervisors also went back to school.

Chen Shiping could only start thinking about those books by himself, and planned to go to Zhongchuan to take classes in the future.

By the way, get yourself a postgraduate degree in communication. You don’t have to worry about too many of these things, and the more, the better.

After Westward Journey was released, Zhou Xingxing felt relieved. Before returning to Hong Kong, he came to ask Chen Shiping if he wanted to film a movie with him.

Zhou Xingxing is now completely convinced by Chen Shiping.

He is not from the same world at all, but he is indeed a master at nonsensical comedy.

But compared to Chen Shiping, it's not good enough.

Zhou Xingxing also told the media that he can make movies like Cheng Long, but Cheng Long can never make movies like himself.

The meaning behind the words is not as good as those action blockbusters.

Naturally, he didn't think highly of Chen Shiping.

But now he doesn't think so. How can he look down on others?

The world of the boss is so far away from him that he has always been watching the sky from a well.

In Chen Shiping's office, Zhou Xingxing became very humble, sitting there waiting for Chen Shiping to arrange work for him.

Chen Shiping said with a smile: "There is indeed a movie I want to make with you, but I can't take care of it for the time being. Let's wait two months to talk about it."

"About what time is it?"

Chen Shiping thought for a moment and said, "September is about right."

Zhou Xingxing immediately said that he would keep a good schedule.

Seeing Zhou Xingxing and Chen Shiping suddenly become humble and obedient, they were still a little uncomfortable.

He quite liked Zhou Xingxing's originally unruly demeanor.

Chen Shiping is going to France during this period to take a trip to settle the film festival matters.

It is very troublesome to apply for an international Category A film festival.

A country can only have at most one.

There is currently one film festival in China that is actively striving for Category A, and that is the Shanghai International Film Festival.

The higher-ups were originally supportive, but when Chen Shiping submitted the plan last year, they suspended the application for the Shanghai International Film Festival.

In principle, it is enough for a country to have one Category A, and you cannot apply for more.

Now Chen Shiping also has to apply for Category A, and Shanghai also has to apply for Category A. Isn’t this troublesome?

People from the Shanghai Film Bureau are in contact with the General Administration all day long, trying to get this quota.

Chen Shiping actually doesn’t care much about whether it’s Category A or not. He wants to organize the Asian International Film Festival!
It is a regional international film festival with similar interests as the Asia Pacific Film Festival.

It’s just that China is not among the member countries of the Asia-Pacific Film Festival, which was held many years ago.

Wanwan and Xiangjiang are included, but in the final analysis they are still involved as regions.

The best-selling films of Xiangjiang and Wanwan in Southeast Asia are inseparable from the help of the Asia Pacific Film Festival.

Chen Shiping still prefers to do Asian film festivals, but not Beijing International Film Festival or Shanghai International Film Festival.

Although Category A sounds very good, it is not what Chen Shiping needs.

All he wants is Asian movies.

However, the superiors don’t think so. They think that if everything is done, it might as well be Category A!
This is mainly the idea of ​​​​Beijing, who habitually wants to compete with Shanghai.

Chen Shiping's idea is also very simple. If the superiors can convince the Shanghai Film Bureau, then he has no objection.

Let’s change the Asian International Film Festival to the Beijing International Film Festival.

If Shanghai cannot be convinced, then I will continue to apply for the Asian International Film Festival.

In any case, whoever wants to take advantage of the situation will do the best. Chen Shiping will not charge into the battle to have a conflict with Shanghai.

In the future, Chen Shiping will also unite other film studios to work together.

How could he charge into the battle by himself? It would be great if he acts as a lubricant in the middle!

In the conference room of the General Administration, Chen Shiping sat there and did not participate in their debate.

The people from China Film were the most active and kept competing with the people from Shanghai Film Bureau.

"Shi Ping and Beijing Film Studio are now the most famous in the world. This Category A should be given to us!"

"Besides, Shi Ping's plan is complete and has goals. You just want to have a film festival. Does it matter whether it's Category A or not?"

The people in Shanghai were not happy when they heard it!

"Who says we are not famous! What a success last year's film festival was!"

"We also have our own goals and plans to build China's Cannes and China's Venice! Why is this not important!"

Chen Shiping sighed inwardly. He finally realized that today's meeting was another day of wrangling.

I guess everyone at the International Film Producers Association was dumbfounded.

Didn’t you invite us to come over for inspection and review last year? Why do you have to wait again this year?

The wrangling meeting didn't end until after four o'clock in the afternoon, but after the meeting, the leaders of the General Administration kept him.

"Shiping, tell me what you think. I saw that during the meeting, you didn't seem to be very active."

Chen Shiping explained with a smile: "It's not that I'm not active, it mainly depends on what the leaders think about it. My ideas and plans are very clear. Whether it's Category A or not is actually not that important."

The leader shook his head and said: "This is very important. Your goal in the next ten years is Asian movies. What about ten years from now? What about twenty years from now!"

"Speaking behind closed doors, we are more optimistic about you. You have the ability and brains, so we feel more comfortable letting you do it."

Chen Shiping listened silently, waiting for the next sentence but.

"But Shanghai was the first to instruct Shanghai to bid. After all, Shanghai is positioned as an international city and is its window and business card to the outside world."

The leader paused and said, "It's also to take care of the emotions in Shanghai. You also know that they have a lot of friction with China Film."

Chen Shiping nodded seriously to show that he was listening.

The leader couldn't help but beat him and said: "Go back and think about it. The goal must be long-term, and you must fight for what you have to fight for!"

Chen Shiping was speechless, he had to force himself to fight, right?

The superiors also want to make peace with each other. If he fights for this category A, the superiors will probably give him the opportunity.

It can also transfer conflicts and problems to Chen Shiping, so as not to cause discord between Shanghai and the General Administration.

Although it is a higher-level unit, it must also consider the thoughts and opinions of the subordinates.

The people in the Shanghai film industry are not easy to fool.

Chen Shiping came out of the headquarters melancholy.

The leader just forces himself to fight, and he makes it clear and thinks more highly of himself.

The meaning is very obvious, you can't push, you have to stand up and fight.

Chen Shiping is already numb, why don't he just go and slap Director Zhang in a sack?

This one is relatively simple!
　I went up the mountain during the Qingming Festival. When I came down, my back hurt so bad that I couldn't sit still. It took me four and a half hours to write a chapter. I took a nap and started again slowly.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)