Chapter 216: 《fortress》 Dies Horribly, Nailed To The Pillar Of Shame In History
June 25th, early morning.
《Magic City Fortress》 sneak preview day.
Actually, in the film circle in recent years, the so-called sneak preview is basically no different from the premiere, just a name change to get an early release, accumulate reputation, and earn more box office.
《Magic City Fortress》 premiere day is the 30th, but on the 25th, the “premiere” had already begun.
Capital City, Wanda Cinema.
《Big Shot》 same cinema + premiere ceremony live performance.
Jin Ming, just like Jin Sui five days ago, dressed sharply, but his mood was excited with a hint of shock: “10 billion in 5 days?! She really made it?”
He had been very bearish on this movie since before the 《Big Shot》 started filming, because movies of this type had been made countless times in the Hong Kong circle before, and especially because this movie cast Chi Ye, who was an unpopular star at the time.
But from the third day of the 《Big Shot》 release, with Douyin streaming media viral publicity and distribution, after the character Zhao Tai exploded all over the internet, he knew he might have “for the first time” misjudged Chi Ye and the 《Big Shot》.
《Big Shot》 did explode, reputation exploded, role exploded, box office also exploded.
But honestly, he didn’t expect the 《Big Shot》 to explode to this extent.
5 days 10 billion, if there was no 《Magic City Fortress》, if there was no his Jin Ming and Beijing circle’s “box office interception”, perhaps… the 《Big Shot》 would have an even brighter future.
Unfortunately.
All of this will end tonight—the real blockbuster is about to release, the fake blockbuster will exit the stage.
“Sigh, it’s really not me deliberately targeting you guys, actually now I’m starting to appreciate Chi Ye a bit.”
Jin Ming hung up the phone call with his sister and shook his head with a sigh.
At this moment, just like that moment five days ago, his sister was perhaps waiting for the 《Big Shot》 release in such an excited mood…
No, at that time the prison sister probably didn’t dare to imagine the 《Big Shot》 could explode like this, she’s different from him, now he is full of ambition and complacency, while she was trembling and anxious.
Different, as an investor, as an entrepreneur, people are different from each other.
Jin Ming thought this way, a gentle and elegant smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
“Ming Zong, the movie is about to start, please take your seat.”
Inside, someone was already calling Jin Ming, Jin Ming glanced at the premiere ceremony packed with people, star-studded cast lineup… 《Magic City Fortress》’s “premiere ceremony”, the lineup was indeed luxurious, almost all Beijing circle big shots came, plus Northwest circle, Shanghai circle, and a bunch of drama circle top streamers wanting to lick them…
Like Teacher Huang, Arthur and others who first agreed to the 《Big Shot》 but later declined.
Compared to the shabby lineup of the 《Big Shot》 five days ago, the gap is not small, not on the same level.
Jin Ming nodded in satisfaction, his mood even more joyful, nodded and walked into the movie theater.
……
Front row.
《Magic City Fortress》 main creators sat in their seats with surging emotions.
Director Yang sat in the C position, next to him was producer Arthur’s mother, and investor Jin Ming, beside them were Yu Yan, Director Feng, Ling Bingbing and others.
Ling Han was also at the edge of the first row, she sat in her seat, yawned, looked back at the guest group that was already full of various praises and empty number one before the movie even started, feeling bored.
“Heard… this time the investor has a strong background, after 《Magic City Fortress》 ends, Yu Yan should be able to get a Magic City city spokesperson.”
Suddenly, the conversation between two big shots in the back row reached Ling Han’s ears, she perked up, catching keywords: Yu Yan, Magic City spokesperson… Chi Ye?
Isn’t the Magic City spokesperson Chi Ye?
The people in the back row also asked: “Stealing Chi Ye’s endorsement? That’s tough, even if 《Big Shot》 is not as good as 《Magic City Fortress》, it still feels like it can hit 2.5 billion box office… Chi Ye is at the peak.”
“Not stealing.” That person explained: “City endorsements are usually short-term, Chi Ye’s endorsement is about to expire, the city government has no intention to renew, and 《Magic City Fortress》 was filmed in Magic City with a whole “sci-fi city”, the movie has “Magic City” in the name, China’s first sci-fi blockbuster, it’s only right for Yu Yan to smoothly take over the spokesperson.”
“……This needs connections, right?”
“I said, the 《Magic City Fortress》 investor’s connections are pretty strong…”
While they were chatting here, Ling Han in the front row muttered: “No matter how strong, they can’t “steal” Chi Ye’s endorsement.”
“Hm?!”
Beside her, Ling Bingbing glanced at her sister and reminded in a low voice: “Be careful with Yu Yan’s emotions.”
Ling Han reacted, looked over, sure enough, Yu Yan was turning his head away angrily, not looking at her.
“……Petty.”
Ling Han muttered, still feeling quite happy—looks like Yan Ge still cares about her.
“Everyone quiet down, the movie is about to start, no screen recording during playback…”
Midnight had arrived, the host on stage said a few simple words and bent down back to his seat.
The mega-production 《Magic City Fortress》, anticipated by the industry inside and out for years, regarded by countless sci-fi movie fans as the pioneering work, officially released.
……
Liu Xiaoxiao today again grabbed two 《Magic City Fortress》 sneak preview tickets with her boyfriend, came to the cinema next door to the premiere ceremony to watch… the same one where Sheng Ning secretly watched the 《Big Shot》 before.
This was originally planned by the little couple—boyfriend accompanies Liu Xiaoxiao to watch Professor Chi’s movie, as “return”, Liu Xiaoxiao also has to accompany boyfriend to watch the sci-fi blockbuster.
And after watching the 《Big Shot》 last time, the boyfriend did feel it was worth the ticket price, even when Liu Xiaoxiao did a second viewing later, he didn’t stop her, and even watched it again with her.
Of course, this didn’t stop him from preferring sci-fi films, special effects blockbusters—his long-awaited sci-fi blockbuster 《Magic City Fortress》.
“Last time 《Big Shot》 was a surprise, hope this time 《Magic City Fortress》 is a shock.”
The boyfriend said smugly.
“Shock what shock… I don’t know what’s good to see… Yu Yan isn’t as handsome as Chi Ye… His movie is out, gonna grab scheduling from 《Big Shot》, don’t know if Ye Zi can still break 2.5 billion box office…”
Liu Xiaoxiao pouted, boyfriend saw and wasn’t angry, just happily watched the movie.
Hm…
Five minutes later, boyfriend put away his smile.
Ten minutes later, boyfriend’s brows slightly furrowed.
Twenty minutes later, boyfriend’s gaze was bewildered.
Thirty minutes later… boyfriend sat on pins and needles, scratched his head, face flushed red.
—The young man’s blush surpasses all sweet talk.
Liu Xiaoxiao had never seen her boyfriend like this, due to personality reasons, her boyfriends were always the mild type, but now, she saw her boyfriend with an incredulous expression, thinking—he must be overly excited?
Shocked?
Hm…
Seeing him constantly standing up and sitting down, as if thorns grew under his butt, is it that exciting?
This film… is fucking rotten, fifty-cent special effects, plot zero logic, Nokia controlling future weapon switches, iron curtain bangs… what’s good to see??
Sure enough, not as good as one hair of Ye Zi.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Halfway through, Liu Xiaoxiao noticed not only her boyfriend, but the audience movie fans who were excited before the movie started, all began the same “grew thorns”.
Some even started cursing loudly, completely different from the frenzied “shushing” before release to signal others not to talk, lest ruining this epic cinematic experience.
She finally realized something was wrong.
So, she looked at her boyfriend.
Boyfriend only then snapped out of the “shock”, turned back to his girlfriend, silent for a moment, said: “……I’m thinking, when will the aliens blow up this dog couple?”
“Ah?”
Liu Xiaoxiao dumbfounded.
“Thesis defense!!!”
Suddenly, a guy in the back row suddenly cursed: “A pile of thesis defense!!”
“Tricked us in to eat shit!! Refund!”
“What kind of fucking sci-fi blockbuster is this, can Yu Yan’s bangs block alien attacks?”
“Don’t black it awkwardly, aliens can’t penetrate Yu Yan’s bangs.”
“RNM, refund!!”
The theater was already clamoring, and the momentum growing bigger, more audience who were just silently cursing wasted time got their emotions ignited—they waited so long for this sci-fi blockbuster, and it turned out to be a pile?!
Who can stand this?!
The scene out of control.
Cinema manager walked in astonished: “What situation? What’s wrong?”
“……Someone yelling for refunds.”
“What thing? Refund?”
Cinema manager also confused.
Refund?
After being manager for so many years, first time hearing audience demanding refunds for a movie… and collective refund.
What situation?
Is the movie not good?
Hm… although he personally also thinks 《Magic City Fortress》 is a bit overhyped, but… nowadays young people, sci-fi fans, don’t they just like this vibe?
Could they have predicted wrong?
Manager came over, appeasing everyone: “Everyone don’t affect other audience’s movie viewing experience…”
“What experience, if you cared about our movie viewing experience, you wouldn’t show this film to us!”
That irritable guy pointed at the manager and cursed: “You really take any money! No conscience?!”
Manager: “?!”
He also got a bit angry: “Talk if you want to talk, no personal attacks!”
“You fired the first shot at us!”
Another audience stood up, imitating the awkward scene in the movie: “—Fire at me! My bangs remain unmoved!”
“You say fire at us and you really do! Touch your conscience, did you finish eating this pile yourself?!”
Cinema manager paused, a bit guilty… because he really didn’t finish watching this movie, just later heard people say “it’s okay”…
No, this doesn’t look like “okay” at all?
As a cinema manager, he knows too well what it means once a film reaches this situation… not to mention, the 《Magic City Fortress》 “live real feedback” seems like the most “intense” he’s never encountered before.
Won’t… won’t be big trouble, right?
……
Big trouble.
Next door, premiere ceremony live performance.
Front row Director Yang, Director Lu, Director Feng, Yu Yan and others, when the film was over half, noticed something wrong with the rear audience, but at this time they didn’t think much—because premiere site is different from other screenings after all.
Here with stars, famous directors, entertainment industry big stars, plus those who could grab tickets to this premiere site are mostly Yu Yan’s fans… so everyone’s “tolerance” and endurance is very high.
But… no matter how tolerant, there are always those with normal aesthetics and brains, and some ordinary sci-fi movie fans.
So, from midway, audience kept excusing to the toilet, but never came back.
By the time the movie was almost ending, when Yu Yan looked back again, he dazedly found—how so many people missing?!
Also, those fan audience, why not talking?
He had seen the short video publicity during 《Big Shot》 viewing, Chi Ye just appeared, and at the end of 《Big Shot》, throughout the viewing, the cinema was full of exclamations, laughter, constant “shocked” gasps…
Here at 《Magic City Fortress》, why so quiet?
He was puzzled, Director Yang also puzzled.
Director Lu saw, smiled slightly, comforted: “Probably all shocked.”
“Indeed.”
Jin Ming also smiled: “After all, it’s our country’s first sci-fi blockbuster, normal.”
Saying this, but in his heart he also started muttering… honestly, he hadn’t watched the full 《Magic City Fortress》 before… this movie… this movie seems a bit too ahead of its time!
Probably he is old, doesn’t understand young audience’s preferences.
Rustling.
Suddenly.
With the movie credits rolling, the “torment” anticipated for years finally ended, many audience stood up and left without looking back.
Those who didn’t leave also looked at each other.
“How was it?”
“Hm… how what?”
“The movie? What do you think…”
“Hard to say.”
Northwest circle big princess Li Qian shook her head, added: “Feels… a very bizarre movie.”
“……”
“Don’t go, everyone don’t go.”
At this time, Director Yang’s “gentle as jade” voice suddenly sounded, but it was him seeing the live audience almost all gone, couldn’t hold back, personally went up to grab a paid film critic.
“Don’t go old Zhang, why are you running.”
Film critic: “……Director Yang, can’t do this to people… at least, at least shouldn’t screw friends like this.”
Director Yang: “?”
He signaled staff to “lock” the door first, while asking: “What are you saying? How did I screw you?!”
“You’re smashing my rice bowl, how did you screw me?”
Film critic shook his head, gave him advice: “Lately really not good, just go abroad to hide, avoid the limelight…”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid some extreme sci-fi movie fans will dox and swarm you.”
Director Yang: “?!”
“Yu Yan, did you respect sci-fi films?!”
An ordinary movie fan saw even the door was “locked”, immediately anxious, pointed at Yu Yan and cursed: “We don’t want to eat thesis defense, and forcibly lock door to make us eat?!”
Yu Yan: “???”
He was stunned, completely dumbfounded by this sudden cursing.
“Why insult Magic City?!”
Another Magic City local young man stood up: “Why does the movie have to use “Magic City” name?”
“Are you foreign spies, deliberately here to ruin our city reputation and image?!”
《Magic City Fortress》, Beijing circle big stars all dizzy, at a loss standing in place, faces flushed red.
Jin Ming even more wide-eyed in shock, seeing no one reacting, instinctively stood out: “Hey, talk nicely…”
“Talk NMB! You are sinners in Chinese sci-fi film history! You will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history!”
