Chapter 241: 《girl》 First Bombshell, Strike Director Zhang First
《Girl》’s ending is extremely clever, perfectly capturing a “regretful” atmosphere.
It seems like Zhou Ye and Shen Jiayi are very likely to end up together, but various shots hint otherwise, along with the final open ending, and Zhou Ye’s classic forced smile at the opening, all foreshadowing regret.
But its overall movie viewing experience has none of the dog blood or forced conflict flaws.
“Abuse” is car accidents, cancer, cheating, abortions.
“Regret” is letting things take their natural course.
In everyone’s life, during the youth stage, they will all face their own regrets; some carry them for life, others, years later, look at their virtuous wife and child, accept it gladly, and smile as they tell them about their immature self back then.
Regret is not a negative emotion; it is an indispensable “beauty” in life.
Only regret makes people feel unsettled, with fresh memories, yet without deliberate dog blood abuse—only the daze of waking up in the morning to greet the new sunrise.
So, the appearance of 《Girl》 truly lives up to what the 《Sunny Day》 trailer said: Chi Ye and Shang Youshu replayed “everyone’s” youth for everyone.
Students will be unable to extricate themselves; middle-aged people, after watching, might feel a new touch.
——Everything is so natural; when the beauty of regret is perfectly presented in movie form, it becomes a rare spiritual masterpiece.
Hmm… this doesn’t affect everyone’s “cursing” of the Chi Ye in the ditch.
“Xiao Chi, look at you. I told you long ago this ending wasn’t good, but you wouldn’t change it. See, now you’re waiting to be cursed!”
Sister Shang in the front row had secretly cried red eyes again; even Jin Xia next to Chi Ye forgot herself and started “outputting” at Chi Ye.
Sister Shang’s output was, as always, soft and fluffy.
Chi Ye glanced at her and said nothing.
Jin Xia unusually didn’t retort to Sister Shang; she just frowned in confusion: “Teacher Chi… how could you write such a script… did your youth have regrets?”
Chi Ye was stunned, meeting those charming bright peach blossom eyes.
Sheng Ning, who was getting up to leave, glanced at him, disdainfully curled her lip; seeing a group of women around Chi Ye, she paused, then turned and left without looking back.
“No, this was inspired by reading youth novels.”
Chi Ye kept a straight face: “Besides, screenwriters are like authors; does an author writing fantasy really time travel?”
Jin Xia eyed him suspiciously.
Hmm…
She frowned in thought for a while, found it reasonable, then…
“Did the kiss feel good?”
“Huh?”
Chi Ye was dumbfounded, then realized, instinctively looking toward Sister Shang… hmm? Where is she?!
The Sister Shang who had just been “full of momentum” questioning him was already gone, running faster than a rabbit.
“Uh, that… I ate surströmming that day…”
“Teacher Chi.”
Jin Xia stared at him for a while: “You’re not being good.”
Chi Ye: “???”
Jin Xia had already withdrawn her gaze, turning with a “face full of frost” and walking outside.
Chi Ye eyed her back for a long time; after she completely disappeared, he irritably rubbed his brow.
“Haha.”
At that moment, Shi Jin, who had been watching the fun from the side, smiled and said gloatingly: “Oh yo, did the kiss feel good~ Hmm~ Listen to me explain, I was filming… how could I do a misposition while filming? Aiya, I’m not like you this drama queen…”
She directed and acted herself, changing tones, playing two roles alone, acting with great enjoyment.
Chi Ye stared at her, not polite at all: “Do you have a problem with your brain?”
Shi Jinwei: “?”
“Pliers, your kiss scene is gone.”
Chi Ye wagged his finger while striding toward the direction Jin Xia disappeared.
Shi Jinwei stood in place stunned for a long time, then suddenly reacted, opening her mouth, speechless for a while.
“Fuck… no… this… what does this have to do with me?!”
“Also, where’s Sister Shang? Don’t you like gossip? Such big gossip and you don’t come eat it?!”
……
The first batch of films scheduled for the National Day slot ended their premiere ceremonies almost simultaneously around the same time.
At this stage, it’s still too early to see the reputation quality of the films, but box office performance and other data are already showing signs.
First, the most watched “Three Illusion Gods” inside and outside the industry—《Rock》《Kunlun Mountains》《Climbing Number One》.
The Three Illusion Gods, due to cast lineup, themes, publicity and distribution, and various other reasons, all had extremely exaggerated box office performance on the National Day slot’s opening day.
Among them, 《Rock》 broke 200 million in opening day box office, 《Kunlun Mountains》 220 million, and 《Climbing Number One》, thanks to Wu Jing, Teacher Zhang, and many top streamers and movie emperors joining, reached as high as 250 million.
《Girl》, thanks to a series of publicity like 《Sunny Day》 and Chi Ye’s fans, also topped 130 million, even though scheduling was divided by at least more than half by other blockbusters.
《To Youth》 90 million; adding up the rest, the National Day slot’s opening day market reached 800-900 million, a scene of rolling wealth.
Of course, the other “small shrimps” aren’t paid attention by inside or outside the industry; everyone cares forever about only the first, and in the National Day slot, the Three Illusion Gods hyped up loudly before release are naturally the sole protagonists.
“250 million… highest occupancy rate… only the first day, reputation hasn’t fermented yet; this performance is too exaggerated, haha, as expected of Wu Jing.”
Capital City, another Wanda Cinema.
The manager looked at the National Day slot opening day market box office rankings, 《Climbing Number One》’s various data; needless to say the box office performance, even occupancy rate, 《Climbing Number One》 was far ahead.
And what does occupancy rate mean?
Cinemas’ scheduling looks not only at box office, but also occupancy rate.
Simply put, occupancy rate represents a movie’s true potential and earning data; the higher the occupancy rate, the stronger the film’s content appeal or publicity conversion rate, making it easier to form viewing heat, helping to continuously increase cinema scheduling.
Cinemas adjust film scheduling through this data to achieve profit maximization.
Low occupancy rate works the same way.
“《To Youth》 isn’t doing well, third from last in occupancy rate, box office also poor… squeeze out some of their scheduling for the other three films.”
The manager scanned the data and made a decision.
“…Which three?”
The deputy manager asked instinctively.
The manager was stunned, laughed and cursed: “Do I need to ask? What do you think? Of course the ‘Three Illusion Gods’.”
The deputy manager hesitated: “Not giving to 《Girl》? I see their opening day occupancy rate seems pretty good, ranked fourth.”
“No need, that’s Chi Ye fans buying it.”
The manager waved: “Traffic movies are high on the first day; of this 130 million, more than half is Chi Ye fans spending money to hard top it. Traffic movies are different from movie emperor famous director films; look at 《To Youth》, haven’t you figured it out?”
“Youth films don’t suit the National Day slot; during National Day everyone wants blockbusters, who wants to watch this small budget youth movie?”
“Makes sense.”
The deputy manager nodded, because traffic stars led by Chi Ye indeed have this “tradition” and habit on movie opening day; even if Chi Ye himself came, he couldn’t refute it.
——《Big Shot》’s pre-sale, 《Girl》’s opening day, are indeed his fans “doing data”.
Not only do they as parties know it well, the industry and cinemas know it like a mirror, so the manager made this decision.
And in fact, his decision was correct; if not, just wait a few more days—truly good movies will gain momentum with reputation, then naturally adjust scheduling based on the audience.
But… can a youth film like 《Girl》 in the National Day slot, facing almost all big productions, movie emperor famous directors’ “epic-level bosses”, make cinemas adjust scheduling for it?
The manager thought it impossible.
Inside the industry, outside, even Chi Ye’s fans thought it impossible.
Because 《Girl》’s theme ceiling is right there; even if filmed beautifully, the theme will have an insurmountable barrier against special effects blockbusters, big productions, big scenes films.
Fans sometimes blindly “protect the lord”, but privately they know better than anyone where their brother’s performance and strength ceiling lies.
Of course, while considering various rational factors, no one thought about what if the so-called blockbusters actually don’t have strong watchability, even a bit lackluster.
October 2nd, the first day of National Day slot passed; this year’s hot movie market has already ignited the entire entertainment industry.
“Today’s pre-sale performance is pretty good; feels like it will be similar to the first day.”
“Congrats congrats, Old Lu; I knew long ago you had it, you’re different from Old Yang.”
“Hey, we’re still a bit off; that grandson Wu Jing earned the most… speaking of, did he calculate with a master? How come after 《Wolf Warrior 2》, all his films have such high box office.”
《Kunlun Mountains》, some offline roadshow site.
Director Lu’s phone hadn’t stopped since last night, constantly connecting and hanging up; in less than two days, he seemed ten years younger, quite the Beijing Circle boss vibe and posture.
Watching made Director Feng and others in the same circle grit their teeth secretly, thinking why didn’t you flop dead this time!
《Kunlun Mountains》’s special effects are indeed well done, so Director Lu hasn’t flopped dead yet.
And what made him even happier was that Chi Ye seemed to really have lost his halo this time.
Unrivaled top streamer; Yu Yan still hasn’t recovered from one 《Magic City Fortress》; now looking, 《Girl》’s reputation seems pretty good, not as explosive as 《Magic City Fortress》… but no matter.
If your box office sucks, you suck.
Without Hong Kong Circle and Wu Zhenyu carrying him, his first solo investment film as protagonist—whether it can withstand box office is visible to the naked eye!
So-called sunlight shines on all, revealing true forms!
“He’s too selfish, only thinking of making money himself; take that 《Ghost》, I wanted Li Qian for female lead then, but he wasn’t willing, said female second suits Li Qian… see, his company isn’t big yet, and he’s already so selfish.”
“In other words, with this personality, can he make it big? Who would let him? Even Wu Jing compromises with us; what is he?”
Northwest Circle, a certain big shot who once asked someone to greet Chi Ye to let his niece play 《Ghost》’s female lead, shook his head in evaluation: “Just watch; this time how many will kick him when he’s down.”
“Uncle, stop; I have a pretty good relationship with Chi Ye.”
Li Qian, listening nearby, frowned and signaled her uncle not to have such big bias against Chi Ye.
“You just don’t get it.”
Uncle pointed at Li Qian: “It’s not me biased against him; it’s what he did after getting famous. Which one in the circle doesn’t have bias against him?”
As the words fell, everyone laughed.
Director Zhang calmly picked up his tea and took a sip, face unchanged.
Someone nearby laughed: “Old Zhang, regret it? You were still conservative before; if you’d said harsher, that role Old Yu played as ten times stronger than Zhao Tai, our box office could’ve been higher.”
Guoshi glanced at him, smiled speechlessly: “Too exaggerated and no one believes it; can’t do another one-take shot, right?”
Everyone was stunned, then laughed out again.
Tap tap tap.
At that moment, footsteps sounded; then a main creator hurried over: “It’s out; today’s box office and occupancy rate are out.”
“We still third?”
Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn, quite concerned.
——In the first two days, 《Rock》 due to theme reasons, scheduling, occupancy rate, box office, always ranked the youngest of the “Three Illusion Gods”—not great for Guoshi, since his last 《Nu Fa Chong Guan》 was champion!
《Rock》’s cast lineup is also not bad; how could it lose to Director Lu and Wu Wolf Warrior?
“Not anymore, not third.”
Hearing this, everyone’s furrowed brows relaxed: “Haha, I knew it; I squeezed in time to watch that 《Kunlun Mountains》 yesterday—filmed so poorly, too chaotic…”
The main creator paused, looked at everyone, awkwardly added: “We’re fourth today.”
“Ah?!”
Everyone was dumbfounded; Uncle Li Qian, who had just laughed criticizing 《Kunlun Mountains》, was also stunned.
“Four… fourth?! Not rising but dropping?!”
He reacted, “innocently” blinking: “What’s the situation… who surpassed us? Can’t be 《Kunlun Mountains》 and 《Climbing Number One》… weren’t they always ahead?”
“…《Girl》.”
Everyone: “What?!”
The main creator was also baffled inside, because box office data can be watched real-time, but accurate data like occupancy rate needs time, so only now did he get the official latest data.
Latest shows, on National Day slot’s third day, 《Girl》’s occupancy rate leaped from previously unnoticed fourth straight to third, squeezing out the acknowledged barrier-holding “Three Illusion Gods” one of them, 《Rock》.
The previous gap between them was more than double.
For example, 《Rock》’s opening day single-day occupancy rate （ daily total average data, not per hall ）, reached 24%; in the industry, over 20% certifies high-heat film, 15% is passing; Wu Jing and Si Zi’s 《Changjin Lake》 peak occupancy was 35%-40% or so.
《Girl》 opening day occupancy 11%, second day 15%, by third day already 25%, surpassing 《Rock》’s drop to 22%, successfully first solo-killing one of National Day slot Three Illusion Gods, 《Rock》.
Of course, this might also be because 《Girl》’s scheduling is much less than 《Rock》’s; smaller base, higher occupancy natural; more scheduling, data surpassed seems normal—too many such examples in the industry.
But…
Films with less scheduling surpassing those with more is normal, but damn jumping over 10% in one day is very abnormal!
This leaping soar only has three possibilities—either high audience concentration, or cinemas giving Chi Ye “special care” in time slots, or… reputation effect starting to ferment.
And as film circle local snakes, they naturally know the first two possibilities favorable to 《Girl》 don’t exist.
So, only one answer.
——《Girl》’s reputation exploded, and the first reputation explosion was stabbing film circle famous director Director Zhang’s “chrysanthemum”.
Moving house and long trip tomorrow, so asking for leave in advance; will make up tomorrow’s update later, thanks for understanding.
