Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 76 Damn it
On the afternoon of December 8, the setting sun cast a pale golden glow on a rental house in Beijing.

Ning Hao couldn't hide his joy. He pushed the door open, took off his coat and threw it on the sofa.

Xing Aina was sitting in a chair watching a TV show. Seeing him like this, she stood up, grabbed the water cup on the table and handed it to him, asking in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

Ning Hao took the water cup and grinned, "It's done! China Film Group and Junior Brother Wu Chen will each invest 250 million!"

Xing Aina almost lost her balance and asked in surprise, "500 million is it?"

"It's done!" Ning Hao nodded. "And as long as the film passes the review and President Han agrees, the publicity will be high."

Xing Ai's eyes lit up with surprise:

"Five million, as long as you save a little, it's enough to make this movie perfect."

At this moment, Ning Hao sat down, took a sip of water, the joy in his eyes gradually faded, and he whispered:
"It's abundant, but the pressure is also great. Mr. Han and my junior brother both trust me, so I have to make this book solid."

Xing Aina patted Ning Hao's shoulder and said, "Why don't you polish the script quickly? Don't miss this opportunity."

Ning Hao nodded, put down his water cup, and pulled out the script for "Big Diamond": "We need to work on the details. We'll start filming after the New Year, so we need to complete all the pre-production work before the New Year."

The two looked at each other and opened the script in tacit understanding. The only sound in the room was the sound of flipping pages.

At the same time, China Film Group has announced the eighth-day box office of "The Dark Side", which is 392 million, approaching the 400 million mark, and the cumulative total has exceeded 2000 million, reaching 2055 million.

In the statistics room of China Film Group, Gao Chengsheng held up the report and said to Wu Chen with a smile:
"Brother, now you have 2000 million, you are the youngest director in the country to earn 2000 million!"

Wu Chen smiled faintly: "Thank you, Brother Gao, but it's likely that we'll stop here."

The pirated version has already been released, and the aftereffects are probably already coming to a screeching halt.

The media went ballistic, with headlines flooding the airwaves:

[Wu Chen breaks 20 million at the age of 21, becoming the youngest director to reach 20 million at the box office!]

"Dark Side" grossed 2055 million in eight days, continuing its legendary 40 yuan return on investment!

[Rampant piracy has put the momentum of "Dark Side" at risk. Can Wu Chen create another miracle?]

Compared with Wu Chen's continuous reports, the news that Lu Xun's "Kekexili" won the Golden Horse Best Film and Best Photography awards was buried in the corner just one day later.

Lu Xun stayed at home, staring at the computer screen, with a look of depression in his eyes.

The headlines were all about Wu Chen's 2000 million, Feng Xiaogang's premiere of "A World Without Thieves", Zhang Yimou's preparations for "A One Man's Journey" in Lijiang, and Cheng Long's "The Myth" in full swing.

His Golden Horse News had already reached the end of the film section. If there were two more film news, he would be squeezed out. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but click on a piece of Wu Chen news and couldn't help cursing:

"The box office is so high, isn't it? What about the art?"

Once pirated copies are released, it is indeed a serious blow to the film industry.

Why spend dozens of dollars when you can just buy a disc and watch it over and over again?

The box office of "Dark Side" plummeted to 80 on the ninth day, and only 53 on the tenth day, with a cliff-like trend.

China Film Group sent a message, estimating that "Dark Side" would only be able to reach 2200 million, and there is no hope of 2300 million.

But both parties are very satisfied because the cost is so low.

At the same time, "A World Without Thieves" was a hit, with 5.1 million on the first day and 30 million in the first weekend, making it the most likely movie to break the 100 million mark after "House of Flying Daggers".

Feng Xiaogang was in high spirits, but reporters' questions always eluded him:
"Director Feng, 'A World Without Thieves' grossed 3000 million this weekend. Amazing! But what do you think of the returns on 'The Dark Side'?"

"Director Feng, the market believes that you still can't match the appeal of Director Zhang Yimou. What do you think about this issue?"

Feng Xiaogang's eye twitched, he forced a smile, and skipped the first question:
"Of course Zhang Yi's appeal is greater than mine, and you have to acknowledge that fact. You can't be angry or jealous about this, you can only strive to catch up."

The reporter asked, "What about Wu Chen's 2000 million?"

Feng Xiaogang's face froze. He waved his hand, "I won't talk about him. I know the box office figures." He turned and walked away. Liu Dehua and Ge You, who were standing behind him, breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Zhonglei had instructed them that if Feng Xiaogang couldn't help but start scolding, they should try their best to stop him.

The situation of "A World Without Thieves" is very good now, but it cannot be ruined by some words.

On December 13th, at Beijing International Airport, the winter sun was glaring and the waiting hall was bustling with noise.
Wu Chen dragged his suitcase and prepared to go to the United States to film "Buried".

As soon as I reached the security checkpoint, I heard a commotion in the distance, and fans screamed:

"Kim Hee Sun! Kim Hee Sun!"

Wu Chen was stunned and looked sideways. Kim Hee Sun was walking towards him in a white coat. She had plump apple cheeks, a gentle smile, and a graceful figure like a willow in the wind.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder Cheng Long is so happy here." Wu Chen smiled and shook his head. Just as he was about to check his ticket, several reporters spotted him and rushed over to surround him.

"Director Wu, are you planning to go to Hollywood to shoot a new movie?"

"Director Wu! 'A World Without Thieves' grossed 3000 million this weekend. What do you think?"

This action immediately caught the attention of fans and Kim Hee Sun who were waiting for the guests nearby, and they all looked over.

"Wu Chen, are all directors this handsome nowadays?"

"It's over. I feel like I'm going to become his fan."

"I watched The Dark Side, it was really good. I didn't expect the real person to be so handsome and he's not an actor."

"."

Some fans discussed it continuously.

Wu Chen stopped, a sly glint in his eyes, and he said with a smile:
"I did go to Hollywood to shoot a new movie this time, so as for your opinion, what can I say?

First of all, congratulations to Director Feng on the huge success of A World Without Thieves. I definitely can’t compare to that at the box office, and the copyright fees were only over 300 million US dollars.”

After saying that, Wu Chen hurriedly checked the tickets.

The reporter was stunned. Wu Chen had already walked away with his suitcase. When he came to his senses, he found that Wu Chen had already checked his ticket. Seeing this, he did not continue to chase him. Instead, a headline was forming in his mind:

Wu Chen responds to the "A World Without Thieves" scandal: Copyright fees exceeding $300 million crush the return on investment!

Just as Wu Chen was sitting on an international flight to New Mexico, the domestic Lunar New Year box office was still very hot.

The next morning, Feng Xiaogang came to Huayi in a good mood.

Wang Zhonglei even sat here to work early.

"Are today's box office statistics out yet?"

Feng Xiaogang sat down carelessly, then picked up the newspaper on the table, as if this place was his home.

"It's halfway out. Today is better than yesterday, but we still need to work harder. In a few days, pirated copies will probably come out."

After Wang Zhonglei finished speaking, Feng Xiaogang cursed even more:
"Damn it, these are just robbers, stealing the fruits of my labor!"

Thinking of the tens of millions of box office losses in the future, Feng Xiaogang felt extremely upset. He spread his hands and saw the following words suddenly appear on the newspaper:

Wu Chen heads to Hollywood to film, responding to the huge success of "A World Without Thieves": Congratulations to Director Feng!

Feng Xiaogang narrowed his eyes after reading the title. Wu Chen wasn't that annoying after all.

However, the subtitle below the reporter clearly reads: The box office is definitely not comparable, and the copyright fee was only sold for more than 300 million US dollars
Feng Xiaogang couldn't help it:
"Damn it."

(End of this chapter)