Chapter 247: When The Time Comes, Heaven And Earth Unite, Upgrade Star Power, Olive Branches
“The old days are gone forever.”
In mid-to-late October, the dispute over the National Day Slot completely settled like dust, and after the seven-day heat passed, there would be minor changes afterward, but they could no longer affect the overall situation.
《Girl》 unexpectedly became the “champion” of this session.
A bunch of people in the Film Circle who had been holding back, wanting Chi Ye to face reality, first “faced” reality themselves.
Clubhouse, inside the Private Room.
Director Lu hung his head low, silent.
As the saying goes, boastful before screening, muttering to himself during screening, silent after screening.
Director Lu was a typical example of the above group.
At the initial release of 《Kunlun Mountains》, he more than once publicly trashed Youth Films for scamming for money and cutting leeks in the Film Market, saying the Film Market needed real filmmakers like them to save it.
Now, they failed to fix the Film Market… well… the Film Market took the initiative to “eliminate” them this time.
“I’ve never figured it out from start to finish, why that Youth Film could surpass us? It only had an investment of 100 million! How much money is Chi Ye making this time?!”
Director Lu let his true feelings show: “I’m upset!”
“Enough, stop talking, go sit at the kids’ table.”
Ling Bingbing saw Director Lu still nagging and irritably waved her hand, signaling him to sit at the kids’ table.
Director Lu flew into a rage: “Bingbing, what do you mean by that?!”
“What do I mean?”
Xu Yingying sneered: “You boasted so much before, it’s already good we didn’t make you deliver on it, and you still expect what kind of attitude from them?”
Director Lu: “……”
“If you ask me, this time it was still okay.”
The producer of 《Kunlun Mountains》 couldn’t help comforting everyone: “At least we broke even this time, made a little profit, no loss is good, no loss is good… the Market Environment isn’t good now…”
Ling Han, who had been silent, suddenly spoke: “The strong never complain about the environment.”
Everyone froze.
Ling Bingbing glanced at her sideways: “Director Lu isn’t one of the strong.”
Director Lu: “???”
“Enough, Bingbing, Han Han, don’t be so sarcastic… We know the market is good now… We’re reflecting, aren’t we.”
Zhang Guowen said something, then looked at everyone: “Wu Jing and the others didn’t make much either, none made money, just that grandson Chi Ye made money.”
“Counting money until his hand cramped, I’m upset too.”
Ling Han: “Not only complaining about the environment, but also complaining about the strong?”
Zhang Guowen blushed: “Han Han!”
“Fine, I won’t say it.”
Everyone: “……”
Indeed, Ling Han’s words were sharp and precise.
Compared to Chi Ye who was now “riding high,” they did seem a bit shabby and awkward.
But similarly, with so many people losing money, just you making money, and making so much…
Aren’t you asking to be hated!
Fine… anyway, Chi Ye asking to be hated isn’t a day or two, maybe he doesn’t even care.
Even, if he knew this idea, he might say—if being hated can make money, then hate me as much as you want!
Circles big and small, all come at me! Come together and “torment” me!
“I think we should now take Chi Ye seriously… He’s indeed different from the traffic stars we’ve dealt with before.”
Xu Yingying got back to the main topic bluntly: “After these few films, he’s all small budget hits, accumulated quite some capital, everyone… better think about how to face him.”
Director Lu frowned: “Why do I feel like you’re detached from your position… Be honest, do you have a crush on Chi Ye?”
Xu Yingying: “???”
“Are you an idiot? If he does well, can’t I say it? We’ve all figured out Chi Ye’s attitude and personality long ago. If you don’t take your opponent seriously, how will you compete in the future?”
Xu Yingying looked at Director Lu with precise evaluation: “Old Lu, you’re really not suited for the Entertainment Industry, you get too worked up too easily, better go back and focus on making your movies.”
Ling Han muttered: “Not suited for making movies either…”
No one else heard this, only Ling Bingbing did; she tugged her sister, and Ling Han awkwardly shut up.
Over here, Director Lu also felt it pointless, irritably waving his hand: “…… Fine fine fine, I won’t talk anymore, okay? You all continue, I’ll just listen.”
Seeing him like this, everyone stopped picking on him and turned back to the earlier topic.
“We do need to pay attention to him. Now not only does he have some capital, just like that marketing account I saw online a couple days ago, all his projects are handled by him personally…”
“We don’t care if his scripts are obtained through connections or not, but they just deliver performance.”
Xu Yingying paused, then said: “With money and performance from this one project, he’ll form his own system later. Most importantly, he’s so independent in doing things. Once he gets big, how will we survive?”
“Additionally.”
Ling Bingbing looked at them: “There’s also the issue with Lin Yang Qianrui. 《Girl》’s box office has surpassed the original 《Xing Ni》… Qian Rui’s rival is here, the market now has a ‘competitor’.”
Everyone exchanged glances, then looked at Si Zi, who hadn’t spoken from start to finish, the most favored and hottest young actor in their circle now.
……
“Yao Lin, you have a ‘competitor’ now.”
Elephant Film Entertainment Group.
Chen Sicheng, who had been very low-key during this year’s National Day Slot, rubbed his chin, staring at the reports for 《Girl》, feeling very envious, and at the same time… a sense of living under Chi Ye’s shadow.
Hmm… actually, he had this feeling during the last 《Big Shot》.
But it wasn’t obvious then; this time 《Girl》 was particularly glaring.
Investment of 100 million, projected box office 2 billion…
How much money is that?
What Chen loves most is money, most enjoys using movie marketing to rake it in!
This Chi Ye is a formidable rival, a big one.
Chen Sicheng made his judgment, turned around and asked Zhu Yao Lin who was sitting on the sofa playing on his mobile phone: “Zhu~ what are your thoughts?”
Zhu Yao Lin looked up, thought for a moment, then said: “Wasn’t there conflict at the Golden Rooster Award before? It was fine… Anyway, there’s already one Si Zi, one more, so be it.”
“Awesome.”
Chen Sicheng gave a thumbs up, but then smacked his lips: “But he’s a much bigger threat to you than Si Zi.”
“With that face…” He gestured at his own dark face, then said: “There aren’t many male stars in Internal Entertainment Circle who can compare now.”
“Si Zi isn’t good enough, Si Zi’s face isn’t, acting skills are just so-so, not as good as you, but this Chi Ye…”
He thought, muttered: “Can’t let him do well… If he rises, then I just signed you, wouldn’t I be at a loss?”
Zhu Yao Lin: “…… You’re the boss, you decide.”
Chen Sicheng didn’t speak, just started seriously studying Chi Ye for the first time.
He doesn’t belong to the traditional Beijing Circle, Northwest Circle, or other circles… accurately, he’s one of the representatives of self-contained systems.
But their self-contained system is not quite the same as Chi Ye’s.
Because no one is all-powerful; in their team, some excel at screenwriting, some at directing, some at acting with certain box office draw.
In short, they belong to the “new generation” Film Circle, different from traditional old circles, yet intricately linked, often collaborating.
And there are many such small circles like theirs, most formed by actors who turned to directing, also new generation directors.
Like Bad Monkey Films by Ning Hao, Huang Bo, Xu Zheng, Sun Lei, etc., Happy Twist by Shen Bin and Ma Li, companies invested by writers like Han Han, Wu Jing’s company, etc.
These small circles now have a heavy presence in the Film Circle, even once becoming “protagonists” on par with old circles like Beijing Circle.
Zhu Yao Lin is the newly recruited member of the circle.
He joined Elephant Entertainment, led by Chen Sicheng and Movie Emperor Wang.
This circle has produced multiple hit products in recent years, plus the original hit IP 《Detective Chinatown》 series, one of the most energetic circles in the industry in the past decade, full of big stars.
This National Day Slot, Han Han’s movie was axed right after scheduling, and Chen Sicheng’s company had no works, so they watched the Market enviously, seeing “no heroes in troubled times let upstarts gain fame,” itching and pricked by the white money!
“Do you think after this, Chi Ye will reconcile with those old circles?”
In the evening, after studying Chi Ye all day, Chen Sicheng went home; he was divorced, now only a housekeeper at home, and also, his friend Movie Emperor Wang was staying at his place.
“Reconcile? Probably not, I’ve met this kid, doesn’t feel like he’s deliberately acting superior, he seems to love making money too, but… maybe thinks following those old circles doesn’t make money?”
Movie Emperor Wang had indeed interacted with Chi Ye; he once presented Chi Ye with the Best Supporting Actor award at the recent Golden Rooster Award gala, together with Huang Bo.
“Ah, I don’t think it’s likely either.”
Chen Sicheng nodded, thought, and said: “I studied his resume, turns out he’s pretty sly… He freaking sent his teammate to Thailand… Remember? When we were filming, he even came to be an extra actress…”
“…… You have ideas?”
Teacher Wang is steady and knows this friend extremely well, hitting the nail on the head.
“It’s not me having ideas, it’s him playing like this, no one wants to let him in to grab meat.”
Chen Sicheng was utterly realistic: “How did we get through back then? We all bowed our heads. Now he wants to walk in standing tall, still so independent, if I don’t have ideas about him, what about others?”
Teacher Wang glanced at him, said nothing.
What Chen Sicheng said was indeed the current reality in the circle.
Why do old circles like Beijing Circle hate Chi Ye so much?
—He’s too “independent,” at least appears too independent, has money but doesn’t share with them, doesn’t let them earn, and still wants to eat in the Film Circle?
Plus, having seen various “new generations,” even actors-directors grabbing rice bowls, market incidents, how could old circles let Chi Ye rise?
Unless… unless he chooses a few of these circles, joins them, becomes one of them, then he’s “one of us.”
Otherwise, he can only “fight” his way out, like past “new generations.”
But the problem is, new generation is a group, ultimately still the “bowed head” type, heroes become dragons too; will Chi Ye do that?
“You’ve considered cooperating, right?”
Teacher Wang asked.
“Of course I’ve considered it.” Chen Sicheng looked at him: “But now we have cooperation with Zhu Yao Lin, do you think these two can play together?”
Teacher Wang: “……”
He sighed: “What a pity.”
Not sure if pitying Zhu Yao Lin or Chi Ye.
“Anyway, take it slow. I won’t proactively provoke him, but if we meet in the market, he’s a competitor. And I think Zhu Yao Lin’s team won’t let him rise like this… There can only be one young movie emperor; one more, and he’s not so special.”
Chen Sicheng made the verdict.
And it was indeed so.
When Chi Ye proved his solo box office draw with 《Girl》, his star power in the Film Circle had reached a level threatening Si Zi and Zhu Yao Lin.
Though he hasn’t won awards yet, personal cumulative box office performance isn’t enough, but…
Si Zi rose to fame with 《Xing Ni》’s 1.6 billion box office in one battle, starting his Internal Entertainment “movie emperor path” hack.
Zhu Yao Lin ascended with 《A Big Life Thing》’s 1.7 billion box office, even winning top Film Circle male actor award Golden Rooster Movie Emperor.
And he was more terrifying than Si Zi; 《A Big Life Thing》 was solo carried by him, Si Zi’s partner was a Film Empress.
Both current top new generation young actors in Internal Entertainment Film Circle with disparity started from “solo carry” trajectories to reach their status, so Chi Ye…
Now 《Girl》 has exceeded 1.7 billion box office, though it’s mid-to-late October, holidays over, marketing fatigue, breaking 2 billion a bit forced, but it’s nailed, higher than Zhu Yao Lin’s breakout.
Same starting trajectory, surpassing performance… even a fool can see Chi Ye’s main rivals in Film Circle next are Si Zi and Zhu Yao Lin; other young actors can’t catch up.
So from this day, Si Zi’s team and Zhu Yao Lin’s team urgently adjusted rival plans, putting Chi Ye’s name first.
Meanwhile, not just Film Circle, in Chi Ye’s peak traffic field, Yue Na, Hong Kong, and some Tai Yang teams launched “offensives” against him.
Of course, with offense comes “recruitment.”
For example, Penguin behind Yue Na, while Yue Na was still nitpicking Chi Ye, Penguin backstabbed with an offer.
That day, they threw N olive branches at Chi Ye.
“Penguin wants me for an S+ role?”
On the way to the 《Ghost》 Film Crew, Chi Ye was very surprised after getting the news: “What does this mean? Did they break with Yue Na?”
Keke turned back from the passenger seat, smiling: “Don’t know if they broke, but not just Penguin, three other platforms… back-end capital all want you for their platform projects. Also, Guoshi sent a few movie scripts, and others from Film Circle…”
“When times align, all forces converge.”
Chi Ye joked with a smile, then asked: “Not asking me to scam for money again, right?”
“Not this time, this time they’re really envious, offering pretty reliable projects… um, but Chi Ge.”
Keke looked serious: “Your schedule is packed full, no time to squeeze in.”
Chi Ye didn’t look up: “Send the notebooks to me first, probably none catch my eye.”
“Okay, um…” Keke paused, hesitating.
Chi Ye looked up: “Speak.”
“It’s just… do you remember that Teacher You from before?”
Chi Ye paused, remembered: “You mean… Spy War screenwriter Teacher You? The screenwriter from when Pliers shot 《Deep Sea》?”
“Yeah.”
Keke looked at him, hesitant: “That script he always wanted to discuss with you seems to have finally passed review.”
“You mean 《Latent》.”
Chi Ye estimated his age: “It’s three years longer than before… um… what does he say?”
“The character age in the script is set exactly to match you.”
Chi Ye pondered.
Keke misunderstood: “Then I’ll turn it down. We only have one TV Series now, 《Ghost》, to maintain the disparity status and continue 《Xing Ni》’s dividends; others…”
“I don’t even have a Best Actor yet.”
Chi Ye suddenly asked: “This year’s Golden Eagle Festival won’t give me a Best Actor?”
