Chapter 274: He’s So Amazing
Inside the Debussy Cinema Hall.
The dimly lit cinema hall gradually brightens at this moment, with thunderous applause resounding inside the hall, lasting for a long time.
Fu Jie and her girlfriend both stand up, applauding along with many big stars in the cinema hall— in fact, the applause from the audience side is the most enthusiastic and the most excited.
——《Influenza》 is great, so damn great.
Exquisite special effects, excellent soundtrack, filming techniques, actors’ acting skills, even any one of the extras inside, make it impossible to distinguish whether they are real people or real “zombies”…
All of this marks that 《Influenza》 is a top industrialized blockbuster movie, with almost impeccable performance in terms of business.
And in terms of plot, under the stimulating and exciting situation of 《Influenza》, it explores cross-strait “relationship” and human issues throughout.
Especially the big climax at the end, Chi Ye from initial selfishness and indifference, to experiencing this journey and successfully surviving self-salvation… perhaps Zhang Lin is not self-salvation, but the moment he sees his daughter turn into a zombie, he has already “died”.
Before he “dies”, he is willing to use his own flesh and blood body to fight a way out for Li Ya and Ma Qiang couple who have helped him along the way.
But the final way out is also a dead end.
Fu Jie still remembers the shock that the last shot brought her just now, the moment she sees the sniper rifle scope in the shot, the instant the scope aims at Li Ya’s forehead.
Her whole body is trembling.
——The gunshot rings out, all sounds cease, everything needs no further words.
This ending is the most realistic, most naked, most real ending.
None other.
A very famous film critic once evaluated 《Train to Busan》— if that shot at the ending is fired, this movie will become legendary.
The texture and production, excitement level of 《Influenza》, under the heavy investment support of Chi Ye and Jin Sui, have far surpassed the original 《Train to Busan》.
He shot two endings, one for domestic release to pass review, the other version is for premiere in the international film industry.
Now, domestic release has issues, but this step in the international film industry is going as planned.
The live performance explodes.
……
“Phew…”
Ling Bingbing tilts her head maintaining the movie viewing posture, she was also applauding just now— sincere applause, because with 《Influenza》’s this quality, this production level, it’s really hard not to applaud.
What’s more… 《Influenza》 is produced by internal entertainment circle!
Although Chi Ye has always claimed this is “co-production”… but that’s for passing review to release in mainland, in fact, the one dominating this movie is Chi Ye, and Chi Ye is the “quality idol” of internal entertainment circle, the unrivaled top streamer of internal entertainment circle.
One year ago, he was a symbol representing internal entertainment circle, now one year later… perhaps he will become the symbol of internal entertainment circle internationally.
“…Sis, is this a movie we can make?!”
Ling Han, this brainless fangirl of Chi Ye, is now a bit at a loss, turning back to look at her sister.
Ling Bingbing’s path to success is almost accompanied by the booming of internal entertainment circle movie market, she once put in a lot of effort for filming, later transformed to behind-the-scenes, participated in production of various blockbusters.
Has she… seen domestic industrialized movies of this level?
Compared to 《749 Bureau》 that the circle is still confidently full of now, how is it?
Ling Bingbing doesn’t answer her sister’s words, just shaking her head: “He is so amazing.”
He is so amazing… who is so amazing?
Chi Ye.
Chi Ye is too amazing.
Previously, Ling Bingbing actually didn’t know much about Chi Ye, only knew the other party is an artist with a lot of means and scheming, um… perhaps appearance and talent are also bonuses, but after watching 《Influenza》, she actually feels that the other party is the one who “racks his brains” for the development of China film industry…
What kind of idea is this?
How old is he?
So absurd.
……
“He is so amazing.”
Same cinema hall, front row, Sister Shang opens her cherry big mouth, looking at this realistic to chilling ending, hard to conceal for a long time.
Compared to Ling Bingbing this “enemy side”, Sister Shang as ally naturally knows Chi Ye better, but…
But Chi Ye you are biased!!
Sister Shang aggressively wants to stand up and question Chi Ye: “Why filming with Sheng Ning is this level of blockbuster, filming with me is 《Girl》 this kind of romantic movie?”
“Say! Do you really have ideas about me Sister Shang? Coveting my beauty, specially selecting this movie for me to do as you please?!”
Um…
She sees Jin Xia bending waist sneakily waving towards this side… Jin Xia hurries slowly, finally at the end of the film, “slips” to this side.
Sister Shang immediately turns smoothly without any anomaly, as if nothing happened, sits back in her seat.
“Um… Weiwei, check if there’s something under my butt, why does it feel a bit pulling on the butt…”
“…Sis, the person sitting next to you today is me, Sister Shi didn’t come in.”
“Oh, voice chat.”
A little flower from the same company glances at Sister Shang’s screen-off mobile phone, nods: “…Then voice chat.”
“The latest AI voice, you don’t understand.”
Sister Shang pretends, mutters without blushing at all.
……
“Done? Already finished playing?”
On the other side, Empress Dowager bends waist walking over, looking at the gradually stopping applause, face ashen: “How so fast, just like you.”
Chi Ye: “?”
He is now in great mood from the live performance atmosphere and feedback, casually replies: “Haven’t tried, don’t jump to conclusions, if I really last seconds, would you be happy?”
Jin Xia little face fierce: “Not happy.”
“…You are so straightforward.”
“Cough cough.”
Sheng Ning next to them listens to the two’s almost unmasked bold words, face greens two shades, coughs heavily once, attracting Jin Xia’s attention.
“Ah, sister is here too, sorry sister, indeed can’t say such words in front of elders.”
Sheng Ning tugs corner of mouth, phoenix eyes glance at her, then turns head, says to Chi Ye: “Get ready, many film distributors want to talk.”
No need for her to say, Chi Ye side has already noticed many film distributors walking towards him.
Brother Ma from Taiwan on the other side smacks lips: “Don’t know how many copyrights can sell this time…”
The oligarch film distributors and distributors at Cannes Film Festival are not simply here just to buy a copyright.
Accurately speaking, Cannes as one of the biggest events in the international film industry, held so grandly every edition, with so many film distributors attending, a large part of the reason is that Cannes concerns their direct interests.
The direct interests here refer to investment, marketing and promotion, distribution network and resource allocation, and finally, copyright purchase packaging.
For example, NEON’s TikTok terrified reaction video and AI trailer are some oligarch using social media to quickly spread movie popularity, helping favored films achieve big explosion, raking in global box office.
Also XYZ Films through influencer cameos, Peccadillo through “restricted big gift package” etc. ways, increase audience consumption desire, promote multi-dimensional and ecological interest chains.
In short, these “oligarch” companies are not just copyright buyers, more like “all-around partners” of the movie market.
They through capital investment, marketing innovation, distribution network, technical support and resource integration, help film producer achieve full process support from production to release, ensure movie success in subdivided markets.
This is also one of the reasons they can stand firm in Cannes and international film industry.
And 《Influenza》 previously in their eyes, obviously just a “wild child”— don’t misunderstand, still is now.
Because 《Influenza》 production throughout almost didn’t use any of their places, including investment… so even if 《Influenza》 big explosion, the interests they seize are very limited.
This is the reason everyone wasn’t that interested in 《Influenza》 before.
Imagine, I promoted so many top blockbusters this time at Cannes that I participated in investment and packaging, now you ask me to favor a “China movie” whose protagonist has no fame in Europe and America market before, isn’t that crazy?
Completely doesn’t conform to their own interest demands.
But…
After watching 《Influenza》, everyone quietly changed their minds— 《Influenza》 is still a “wild child” now, but this “wild child” is excellent, excellent to the point that even if they didn’t participate in investment, as long as they take over 《Influenza》 later packaging and cinema chain release, they can still seize certain interests.
And, most importantly, through this movie, they noticed Chi Ye and 《Influenza》 this unfamiliar main creator team…
And the change in mainland China movie industry.
……
Mainland box office has always been hailed as the world’s second largest box office, even in recent years, has had momentum to surpass the West, so many overseas oligarchs are interested in mainland market.
But due to mainland review system and various international games, few among them have cases that truly achieve performance.
But this time 《Influenza》’s appearance lets them see a glimmer of hope— mainland can also make this kind of movie… then do they still have opportunity to enter mainland market?
Additionally, even if can’t enter, for the “potential stock” 《Influenza》 team about to fire the first shot in global market, they feel should give certain degree of respect and “escort”.
“Escort”… costs money.
“Hello, I’m Jenny Pitt, marketing person in charge of NEON.”
Cinema hall top floor rooftop, at the post-screening cocktail party of Cannes.
《Influenza》 main creators after rounds and rounds of “dealer” bombardment, finally wait for the “big fish”.
Person in charge of one of the three major international genre film companies NEON holds wine glass, walks over, and first hands out his business card.
Chi Ye notices, this representative is not the one who watched 《Influenza》 before, obviously, those who came to watch before were just to make up numbers, after making up, they called the company side.
“Hello.”
Chi Ye is not only actor, but also producer + investor of 《Influenza》, so naturally stands out.
The main creators behind control their expression management, observing the two’s conversation.
Um…
Many people can’t understand… indeed those who went to school didn’t learn foreign language well.
And the two didn’t talk long, ten minutes later, Pitt clinks glasses with Chi Ye again, very composedly leaves.
“…What did you say?”
Sheng Ning is the representative of illiteracy among 《Influenza》 main creators, her academic performance indeed not good… and dropped out, half-baked with foreign language, in fact… seeing Chi Ye who could normally communicate with Pitt just now, inwardly very dumbfounded.
Not little brother, when the hell did you learn foreign language?
If not mistaken, you are idol origin.
Chi Ye side is even more surprised, because… Sheng Ning is so “anxious”, actively asking.
Yes… shouldn’t my big Shi Jinwei be composed? Even if not big Shi Jinwei, by Sheng Ning’s personality, shouldn’t corner of mouth twitch, mockery smile: “That’s it?”
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Sheng Ning is looked at a bit annoyed and embarrassed, black face: “I care a lot about this movie… whether quality or performance.”
Chi Ye silent two seconds, then nods: “This I believe.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing much, just said interested in helping us package 《Influenza》, NEON is best at marketing packaging, many global box office explosion movies, Oscar rush movies, are handled by their company.”
“You agreed?”
Sheng Ning voice pauses, eyes dazed.
NEON indeed excels at packaging, especially not long ago, had TikTok terrified reaction video craze… this group likes thriller terror type blockbusters most.
But… can take a fancy to 《Influenza》, become the first group to formally contact 《Influenza》…
If let NEON package 《Influenza》… doesn’t that mean 《Influenza》 is bound to explode globally?
Right, not internal entertainment circle… global…
Oh my god.
I Sheng Ning one day can actually reach this height?
Always extremely dominant Sister Ning feels this scene very dreamlike… 《Influenza》’s success gives her a feeling of extreme unreality and complexity.
She thought 《Influenza》 would explode, thought 《Influenza》 would be hot, but really didn’t think it could reach this step.
In internal entertainment circle history, seems no movie has received NEON’s “favor”…
Um… not seems, simply none.
Because NEON, XYZ Films High, Octane three houses, main attack directions each different, NEON is “professional team” specializing in Oscar, in the West long known as “Oscar system art film” hunter title.
XYZ Films High then genre film vanguard, to date only cooperated with internal entertainment circle two movies, but cooperation specs not high, cooperation method likes to sign distribution rights（ main attack North America market）.
High Octane most “generous”, it claims genre film wholesaler, locks martial arts/action track, cooperated with internal entertainment circle industry three or four movies.
Cooperation method likes to directly purchase buyout copyrights.
Note, the so-called “internal entertainment circle” above refers to including Hong Kong and Taiwan… if not including, then… very few.
Among these three, the first to come knocking is surprisingly the “highest value” NEON… as for why highest value… because it was never “conquered” by internal entertainment circle before.
Sheng Ning turns back to look at Chi Ye, eyes complex.
This time might really be taken to fly.
Taken to fly by Chi Ye.
