Chapter 321 The Revenge of the Spring Festival Gala Director
At the end of December, New Year’s Day is approaching, and the fierce competition in the film market at this time is slowly becoming apparent.
Producers of upcoming movies have tried their best to promote them.
Netizens also named this New Year's Day schedule as a death schedule.
In the past, this situation basically only occurred during the Spring Festival.
On the other hand, New Year's Day is usually filled with movies that are not confident in competing for the Spring Festival slot, so they settle for the next best thing before choosing a release time.
This year is different, the lineup is definitely luxurious.
Many viewers who plan to watch the movie feel like they are spoiled for choice.
......
First of all, there are two blockbusters imported from abroad.
Both films are American Hollywood-standard assembly-line commercial blockbusters.
The investment is far higher than that of domestic first-tier commercial films.
A spy-type movie, a teenage adventure, full of popcorn attributes.
Of course, although it may be a routine, many viewers actually just follow this routine.
Needless to say, the cast is luxurious and the special effects are explosive. The key is that both movies are sequels and have a very good audience and fan base.
According to previous examples, although it is not always a domestic film that is beaten, most of the time it is definitely the biggest competitor of domestic films in the same period.
Usually one movie is enough to satisfy major movie producers, but this time there are two movies at once.
Of course, apart from that, domestic films are not weak at all.
Tianwu and Tianhua are two of the three major entertainment circles, one on each side.
Although the investment cannot match the two commercial blockbusters from the United States, it can definitely be regarded as a proper masterpiece.
The first is Tianwu's side, a costume fantasy theme called "White Fengshan".
In terms of the cast, the male protagonist is Shu Jiong, a top-notch actor. His acting skills are not great, but his looks are good, he has many fans, and he has considerable box office appeal.
In addition, the heroine is the movie queen Mak Ying-nan, and this movie is her debut after moving to the big screen.
Although there is only a trailer for now, nothing much can be seen yet.
But Mak Yingnan will definitely have a lot of roles, and may even have more roles than Shu Jiong.
The total investment is close to 300 million, which is not unique among domestic films, but it can be considered a big production.
As for the smallpox side, although there is no blessing from the best actor or actress, there are more than 20 first-line actors participating in guest appearances.
And it’s the only urban fantasy film with comedy elements in this New Year’s Day release.
Although there are no special effects, such a luxurious lineup is still very attractive.
The only pity is that, I don’t know if it’s for the sake of praising newcomers, but the movie called "The Wanbao Merchant" stars Yan Xixiang, a second-tier newcomer actor from Tianhua who has just debuted.
It can also be seen that the smallpox side is really spending a lot of money to support Yan Xixiang, allowing so many first-line actors to help make Green Leaf. In fact, there are some seniors in the entertainment industry.
......
Of course, in addition to these four movies, the biggest variable is actually the sudden announcement of "Infernal Affairs" joining the cast.
The name Xu Ji has been enough to make everyone be wary since the last time "Wushuang" was released with good word-of-mouth and box office success.
What's more, the cast of Xu Ji's "Infernal Affairs" this time directly recruited two international movie stars from Hong Kong.
Although the media is indeed exaggerating, it is still possible for Xu Ji's new movie to win the New Year's Day box office championship.
In addition, there were many low-budget movies planned to be released on New Year's Day, but now most of them have announced delays.
After all, in such a fight between gods, they will definitely be the ones who suffer in the end.
Originally, New Year's Day was a good schedule choice for these low-budget films.
But I didn’t expect that this New Year’s Day would become an even more exaggerated death time than the Spring Festival.
In desperation, we can only bounce tickets one after another.
I am planning to wait until next year to release it again.
Of course, there are also some low-budget movies that still have no shifting period due to various reasons.
Thinking that if you use your small skills to make a big difference, you might have the opportunity to pick up something.
......
There is less than a week left before New Year's Day, and at this time Xu Ji has no other work except planning the road show schedule after the movie is released.
Compared with before, it is relatively relaxed.
The promotion of "Infernal Affairs" went surprisingly smoothly because someone secretly "helped" it. With the current popularity, there is no need to pay special attention to publicity before the release.
But at this time, Youman came to him and said that this year's Spring Festival Gala program team had sent an invitation in advance.
He was not the only one who received the invitation at the same time, but also Sha Yetong.
"Is this year's Spring Festival Gala director still Duan Suxin?"
The director of the previous two sessions was Duan Suxin.
Duan Suxin is Duan Lao's daughter. Although she is old enough to be called Xu Ji's aunt, the two still have a good relationship because of their previous cooperation.
"Probably not."
"When I watched the Spring Festival Gala this time, it seemed that I was looking for director Xiang Zhenghui."
Youman said.
She is no longer the same person as when she first took over Tongji Entertainment. She basically has a way to find out all kinds of news about the entertainment industry.
I have a little impression of Xiang Zhenghui’s name.
He is a relatively famous party director.
Although he is a first-line director, it is relatively rare to become a first-line director just by directing evening parties.
Although it cannot be said that he is the only one, he can be regarded as a relatively outstanding small group in the entertainment industry.
Xu Ji actually has no great interest in participating in the Spring Festival Gala.
But the other party sent an invitation, and Xu Ji still planned to give him face.
After all, the Spring Festival Gala is definitely the stage that most artists want to be on.
......
In addition, Xu Ji also took the time to meet Xu Yixin.
The other party told Xu Ji that preparations for the music variety show were almost complete.
You can start recording at any time.
It was only after Xu Yixin said it that Xu Ji remembered that there was such a thing.
But obviously now is not the time to record a variety show. We probably have to wait until "Infernal Affairs" is released and complete the road show process.
Otherwise, there is obviously not enough time.
After all, I have to take time to go to the capital in the next few days to participate in the Spring Festival Gala primaries.
Neither he nor Sha Yetong has time.
......
At the same time, Beijing.
The Spring Festival Gala every year is a big project, and being able to be the director of the Spring Festival Gala is obviously not a small honor for Xiang Zhenghui, who specializes in directing the gala.
Although there are indeed many and troublesome things in the Spring Festival Gala, it is really great that the director of the Spring Festival Gala can decide the program.
Artists who could not be invited even if they begged grandpa or grandma before, are now here on their own.
Even Xiang Zhenghui, who is well-informed, can't help but feel a little carried away for a while.
He had been in charge of some local stations' Spring Festival Gala before, but compared with the official Spring Festival Gala, it was completely different.
"Guide, Xu Ji and Sha Yetong have responded."
"I promised to participate in the Spring Festival Gala's program selection later."
At this time, after hearing his assistant's words, Xiang Zhenghui couldn't help but smile.
"This Xu Ji sounds so noble. I have invited him so many times before, and I didn't even refuse him."
"I said he was going to refuse the invitation to the Spring Festival Gala."
"If that's true, I'd still admire him."
......
Naturally, Xu Ji and Sha Yetong were invited to some of the evening parties that Xiang Zhenghui was responsible for before.
But Xu Ji has never agreed. Even for Sha Yetong, the success rate is actually not high.
This has always made Xiang Zhenghui very worried.
There have been rumors that Xu Ji doesn't like to participate in variety shows, and he doesn't accept endorsements or anything.
Tongji Entertainment is a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry.
On the contrary, Xiang Zhenghui has no good impression of Xu Ji and Tongji Entertainment as a whole because he has been rejected.
I think the other party is a little too pretentious.
Originally, he didn't plan to invite Xu Ji, but after thinking about it, he invited him anyway.
It is best to eliminate Xu Ji in person and vent your dissatisfaction properly.
Xu Ji is not a god either. It’s as if the Spring Festival Gala couldn’t go on without him.
......
"The primary election for the Spring Festival Gala will begin soon. There are no problems with the arrangements, right?"
Phoenix Entertainment, Li Bokai is sitting in his office, and the department manager standing in front of him is standing respectfully in front of him.
Although the current Phoenix Entertainment chairman is Li Borui, everyone knows that the actual person in charge is Li Bokai, the eldest brother.
"Director Li, the arrangements have been made."
"Xiang Zhenghui came to us a long time ago and said he wanted to join Phoenix Entertainment."
"This time he became the director of the Spring Festival Gala. I have already given him a hint. He should know what to do."
After Li Bokai heard this, he nodded with satisfaction.
Nowadays, many of Phoenix Entertainment’s old artists have left, and the most important task is to support newcomers.
The Spring Festival Gala is obviously the most suitable stage for celebrating newcomers.
After all, it’s not uncommon for someone to become famous overnight on Spring Festival Gala.
As long as the arrangements are properly made, with Phoenix Entertainment's capabilities, it shouldn't be difficult.
Of course, the most important thing is to allow Phoenix Entertainment artists to appear on the Spring Festival Gala.
And this time, God gave them a chance. The director of the Spring Festival Gala is Xiang Zhenghui, who has expressed his desire to join several times.
"No traces left, right?"
"If the official side finds something wrong and investigates it..."
Although Li Bokai didn't finish what he said, the meaning was obvious.
Although there are arrangements, after all, the Spring Festival Gala is an official party, so if you want to make small moves, you must be cautious.
Otherwise, if the authorities discover it, it will be more than just a little trouble.
"Don't worry, Mr. Li."
"I made an appointment with Xiang Zhenghui to meet offline, and it didn't last more than ten minutes, so no one would notice."
"And I only hinted at it, not directly stated it."
"Even if Xiang Zhenghui made a recording, it actually doesn't count as evidence."
"Of course, the only thing I'm afraid of now is that Xiang Zhenghui doesn't understand what I mean."
......
After hearing this, Li Bokai finally showed a satisfied smile.
"That old guy Xiang Zhenghui has been in the entertainment industry for such a long time. It's impossible that he can't hear our intentions."
"We will know when the results of the primary election come out."
The department manager also nodded at this time.
He met the other party in person, and based on Xiang Zhenghui's expression at that time, he should have understood.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be like myself. I kept hiding it when I spoke and didn't make it clear. It was obviously intentional.
"By the way, Director Li, it seems that Xu Ji and Sha Yetong also participated in the Spring Festival Gala primaries."
Li Bokai asked him to pay attention to the movements of Xu Ji and Sha Yetong, and he did not forget it.
Li Bokai was not very surprised by this.
It would be strange if Xu Ji and Sha Yetong were not invited to the Spring Festival Gala.
After all, if Xu Ji can participate, it can basically guarantee that there will be at least one high-quality original song in the Spring Festival Gala.
If he is the director of the Spring Festival Gala, he will not consider other programs for the time being, and he must invite Xu Ji first.
Maybe we can even get a few more original new songs for free.
......
"Xiao Xuzi, is Sister Xin still the director of this Spring Festival Gala?"
At this time in Rongcheng, Xu Ji and Sha Yetong were preparing to pack their things and go to the capital to participate in the Spring Festival Gala primaries.
"No, someone has changed."
"But the venue of the Spring Festival Gala should not have changed."
Xu Ji opened his mouth and answered.
If it were Duan Suxin, Xu Ji felt that neither of them would have to participate in the primary election.
I should be participating in the rehearsal directly later.
As a director, you have such a privilege, but of course, you have to convince the public.
If you leave traces, I guess no one will gossip.
In fact, he received a message from Mo Jianwen the day before yesterday.
It is said that the Spring Festival Gala plans to invite faceless people to participate.
Faceless people are even allowed to wear masks to participate in the Spring Festival Gala, which is a proper special treatment.
This is indeed something Xu Ji did not expect. Is the Faceless Man already so popular and well-known now?
However, Xu Ji still asked Mo Jianwen to refuse for him.
After all, he himself has received the invitation. If he goes as a faceless man, he really can't solve the problem without the ability to clone himself.
Moreover, the Spring Festival Gala requires so many rehearsals, and there are so many people and so many eyes. It’s not like in "The Masked Singer" where there was a program team to help hide the identity.
It is also possible for someone to discover your true identity by then.
Obviously Mo Jianwen didn't want this to happen, so he was a little nervous both inside and outside of his words, fearing that Xu Ji would actually attend the Spring Festival Gala as a faceless man.
Finally, when Xu Ji asked him to help and refused, he finally felt relieved.
......
Beijing, the scene of the Spring Festival Gala primaries.
The number of artists and celebrities gathered here is definitely rare.
Pei Yi, as a little boy who has just debuted, can't even get into the second-tier list, is like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, eager to take photos with people everywhere.
"What the hell, Xu Ji and Sha Yetong?"
Pei Yi suddenly shouted, and the artists and stars around him all cast strange looks.
The agent quickly told him to shut up.
"Sister He, can I go up and get an autograph?"
Pei Yi asked with a pleading expression.
But the agent refused without mercy.
"Don't be embarrassed!"
"You are an artist of Phoenix Entertainment now, can you have some backbone?"
Pei Yi knows what the agent said makes sense.
But those are Xu Ji and Sha Yetong!
"Adjust your status well, the primary election will begin soon!"
"This kind of opportunity is rare, you must seize it."
However, the manager had no intention of discussing it with her, and immediately gave instructions.