Deceiving Chinese Entertainment Industry for Thirty Years 39

Chapter 39: Bingbing

2025-01-21

Chapter 39: Bingbing

“Silent love is even more moving!”

“A film called *Heard* ignited the end of 1996!”

“Why do young people like *Heard* so much?”

It’s a hit!

A real hit!

Not only did it show the potential of a dark horse at the box office.

It also attracted numerous media outlets vying for coverage.

Some newspapers wrote that the film benefited from the popularity of CCTV (China Central Television).

The three lead actors all made their debut in the popular CCTV drama *Seventeen Years Old, Don’t Cry*.

In particular, the female lead, Hao Li, her performance was realistic and natural, her appearance youthful and beautiful, truly representing the current image of female high school students.

And the supporting actress, Gao Yuanyuan, was pure and lovely. Her acting might have been green, but that very rawness made her even more captivating.

As for the male lead, Chen Kun, he was devastatingly handsome.

These three, first gaining familiarity through a CCTV campus drama, then having a film released.

It was only natural that it became a hit.

Other newspapers said the film’s plot was excellent.

Family affection, romance, sisterhood, all were well-depicted.

It seemed plain, yet the details revealed warmth.

Of course, some newspapers didn’t offer positive reviews.

But the positive reviews definitely outnumbered the negative ones.

One could safely say:

*Heard* achieved both box office and critical success!

But sometimes.

Popularity isn’t always a good thing.

…

“Ma Xun! What are you busy with?”

Hong Jie came to the small courtyard again, but this time she didn’t even knock on the door knocker.

She was clearly upset.

Ma Xun smiled, pulled her into the house, and poured her a cup of hot tea.

“Who bullied you?”

Hong Jie held the teacup with both hands, the winter chill instantly dissipating.

Before even drinking, her heart felt warm.

Her anger naturally subsided, but she still had to talk about the matter.

“Going south, I’m encountering resistance now.”

Ma Xun understood immediately and said with a smile, “Our film became famous, those bosses will definitely be cautious.”

“Why?” Hong Jie didn’t quite understand.

Ma Xun had been prepared for this, “Once famous, pirates will target us, and once piracy occurs, the box office appeal of our film will definitely be lower than *Shanghai Bund*.”

That’s the truth.

Our *Heard* was previously unknown, pirates didn’t bother to pirate it.

Now that it’s a hit, piracy will definitely happen!

And once piracy occurs, our film stars newcomers.

Can Chen Kun compare to Andy Lau, or can Hao Li surpass Cecilia Cheung?

The cinema owners aren’t fools.

They will definitely have many concerns.

*Heard* previously quietly made a fortune.

Now it can’t be quiet anymore.

“Then what about our film’s box office?”

“Didn’t you think 8 million was already good?”

“That was then, this is now~”

Hong Jie’s words revealed her greed.

Fortunately, Ma Xun was prepared.

According to the current situation in the mainland Chinese film market.

For a romance film like *Heard*, after exceeding 10 million at the box office, it’s difficult to see significant further growth.

Ma Xun said earnestly, “I estimate it will eventually reach 15 million, but that’s still a huge success, and it will bring you face.”

He was already exaggerating.

Hong Jie felt much better.

Now, when she goes out, she’s already called Director Chen.

Only the “Great” is missing from “Great Director Chen.”

“You always say what I want to hear.”

This sentence fully demonstrated Hong Jie’s good mood.

But there was another important problem.

“Beijing Film Studio wants to withhold our payment.”

This was no small matter!

Ma Xun smiled, “Can this still stump my Great Director Chen?”

I’ll use this title first.

Hong Jie was overjoyed, but she still had to speak, “You know, state-owned enterprises are having a hard time these days, especially Beijing Film Studio. My insider told me the payment is difficult.”

Ma Xun also frowned upon hearing this.

Now making films requires buying a ‘studio logo’.

This time they cooperated with Beijing Film Studio, and our film was also shot in the Capital City.

Moreover, Hong Jie also had many acquaintances at Beijing Film Studio.

In her early years, she also filmed *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* and *Dream of the Red Chamber*, both film versions.

Back then, Hong Jie’s status wasn’t much higher than an extra.

In the film version of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, Daiyu was played by Tao Huimin, Baochai by Fu Yiwei, Wang Xifeng by Liu Xiaoqing, and even Shi Xiangyun by Ma Xiaoqing.

Hong Jie played at most a small maid.

Let’s not talk about these sad past events.

The domestic film market has been sluggish for many years, and Beijing Film Studio only survived on government funding.

Now a film makes a big profit, they will surely create trouble.

So what do we do?

“Hong Jie, the solution is actually simple. Since it’s a problem caused by profit, let’s solve it with ‘profit’ as well.”

“Ah? How?”

“Our *Heard*, after all, only has a box office of over ten million yuan. It’s profitable, but it’s not a huge ‘profit.’ So, you give them a bigger ‘profit’ and it’ll be settled.”

“Bigger profit? Why should I give it to them!”

Hong Jie’s question sounded reasonable, but it amused Ma Xun.

Her beautiful face clearly expressed:

I don’t understand!

Ma Xun had to teach her hand-in-hand.

It’s true, Hong Jie is a well-bred lady, and she is a novice in business.

“I went to the South recently, and I heard about many Hong Kong projects. Some lack funding, while others want to come north to find partners.”

This is the current situation. Many people in the industry have seen this. Hong Kong filmmakers are having a hard time.

Hong Jie nodded repeatedly, begging Ma Xun to continue.

“Just tell the leaders of Beijing Film Studio that *Heard* is just an appetizer. I can help attract many Hong Kong projects.”

Now Hong Jie understood completely!

“But the money should be given to me. I’ll use this money to attract Hong Kong projects. Then the factory leaders will definitely agree.”

“Good idea!”

There’s a ‘detail’ in Ma Xun and Hong Jie’s conversation.

That is, the profit model of units like Beijing Film Studio is different from ours.

Simply put, as long as there is funding for a film.

There is no need to wait for the film to be released, let alone whether it makes a profit or a loss.

Beijing Film Studio will make a profit!

The funds are indeed invested in films, but it’s units like Beijing Film Studio that receive the funds.

Many of our current leaders are very keen on ‘attracting investment’, which is roughly the same.

Hong Jie understood and was happy.

Moreover, she immediately thought of a big fish.

“There’s a project called *The Song Dynasty*, they want to make a good film, they must come to the mainland.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Xun secretly admired her.

“This project is too deep, I’m afraid you can’t handle it?” This line… sounds familiar?

The investment for *The Song Dynasty* is rumored to be over 40 million yuan.

They definitely plan to go north, as they can’t film in Hong Kong.

Hong Jie pulling some strings, this project might succeed.

But the investment is too large.

“Do you have any good suggestions?”

Ma Xun did, and he mentioned a film title, “I heard there’s a project called *Thirteen Lang of the South China Sea*, the investment should be smaller, and easier to manage.”

Actually, Ma Xun mentioned this film mainly to operate the copyright.

This drama can be filmed in Hong Kong, but it involves scenes of changing times.

Filming in mainland China is obviously better.

Hong Jie was overjoyed, “Then I’ll try both.”

Good heavens, you’re afraid she can’t handle one, yet she wants to try two.

Ma Xun was about to speak, but Hong Jie grabbed his hands.

Pulling him forward.

This… also means trying both?

What else could Ma Xun say?

…

Hong Jie used Ma Xun’s method.

It worked.

Beijing Film Studio readily paid several installments.

Then Hong Jie went south to ‘attract investment’.

While Ma Xun wasn’t idle in the Capital City.

Gao Yuanyuan was very obedient.

She had made up her mind to apply for Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama.

But the college entrance exam for art schools wasn’t that simple.

She enrolled in classes taught by a well-known teacher in the industry.

Those who have worked in the entertainment industry in later years all know that to pass the entrance exam for schools like Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama, unless you’re a child star or an exceptionally talented person.

Then obediently find an art exam training institution to sign up for classes.

Otherwise, there’s no hope.

Art exam training has become an industry in the future.

In 1996, this industry didn’t exist yet.

But there were ‘teachers’.

They were teachers from art schools, who ran their own ‘training classes’.

The tuition fees weren’t cheap either.

These were the predecessors of the later art exam training institutions.

But Gao Yuanyuan said she didn’t understand.

Ma Xun had to come and see if the teacher’s instruction was poor, or if our Yuanyuan was too slow.

Unexpectedly, when he arrived outside the small building of the training class, he saw a special person.

She was a beautiful girl who could be spotted at a glance in a crowd.

Tall, with an oval face, large eyes, and a high nose bridge.

Fan Bingbing’s style.

Ma Xun never expected to meet her here.

But it’s normal, because she should also be taking the art exam next year.

This area is full of such training classes.

So, Ma Xun took a few more glances.

The high school version of Bingbing, pure and lovely, was indeed pleasing to the eye.

“Sir, is there something you need?” Bingbing noticed him.

Ma Xun immediately said:

“If I say I can make you famous, would you believe me?”

Thank you for your support, thank you, thank you!

Please keep reading, please!

(End of Chapter)

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