Chapter 129: Star and Acquisition

At the end of June, Zhou Shan Studio and China Film Group jointly announced that Liu Zhou’s new film "The Swordsman" was officially scheduled to be released on December 21st.

It immediately caused a heated discussion outside.

As the movie with the largest investment after "Hero", and also gathering big stars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong, "Blade of the Dragon Saber" has always attracted much attention from the outside world.

From the official announcement of the project to its final completion, there has been no shortage of news related to "The Swords of Embroidery".

This also raised the expectations of some viewers.

Now, "The Blade of the Immortal" has finally been scheduled. Although it will take nearly half a year to meet the public, at least the date is visible.

What's more, this is Liu Zhou's first time to compete in the Lunar New Year box office, and everyone wants to see whether Liu Zhou can replicate the box office miracle of Zhang Yimou's "Hero" this time.

However, Liu Zhou's decision to release "The Blade of Embroidery" during the Lunar New Year holiday made Huayi Brothers and Feng Kuzi annoyed and unhappy.

Feng Kuzi's new film "Cell Phone" was delayed due to the flu and is still in post-production.

I didn't expect that because of this delay, the movie schedule I had planned was snatched away by someone else.

At this moment, Wang Zhongjun's office was filled with smoke.

"Brother, what should we do? Does Director Feng need to adjust the release date of his film?" Wang Zhonglei asked anxiously.

Looking at Wang Zhongjun who was still smoking silently, Feng Kuazi said loudly:

"Why change the release date? No! I'm not afraid of anyone during the Lunar New Year holiday!"

"Director Feng, don't act on impulse. Liu Zhou's "The Swordsman" is built with a big cast. It's unwise to go head-to-head with him."

"What's there to be afraid of? The worst that can happen is that we can face him again. It's not shameful if we lose. If he loses, then he will lose face."

"Director Feng, we are doing business, not fighting. Don't worry, we will definitely let you win him fair and square once in the future, but you really have no chance of winning this time.

We are all quite optimistic about your new film, there is no need to use it as cannon fodder."

"According to you, it will be released in another time slot?"

At this time, Wang Zhonglei did not speak, but looked at Wang Zhongjun and said:

"Brother, what do you think?"

Wang Zhongjun took a deep puff of the cigarette, then extinguished it forcefully and said:

"It's time to shift gears!"

Hearing Wang Zhongjun say the same thing, Feng Kuazi insisted:
"Mr. Wang, Cell Phone is also a comedy, so it is suitable for the Lunar New Year period. If it is released during other periods, the box office may not be as high as expected."

"That's better than releasing it at the same time as The Blade of Eternal Youth. This movie is invested by Liu Zhou, China Film Group and Emperor Entertainment Group, and they all attach great importance to this movie.

It would be unwise for us to confront them directly this time."

Wang Zhongjun saw that Feng Kuazi was still a little stubborn and wanted to continue talking, so he interrupted directly:

"This is also what Han Shanping meant. He told me directly that Liu Zhou gave in to us once last year, and this time we need to give in. China Film Group will not allow a situation where both sides suffer losses."

Hearing Wang Zhongjun's words, Feng Kuazi fell silent, then sighed and said:
“So, in which schedule will we release Cell Phone?”

"Except for the Lunar New Year period, everything is fine. Han Shanping said he would give us convenience and support."

"Han Shanping is deliberately biased towards Liu Zhou. He is a man who only cares about whoever gives him milk. He tried to please me in every way at first, but now he is licking Liu Zhou's stinky ass again."

Hearing Han Shanping's words, Wang Zhongjun couldn't help but frown.

Isn't it because you are not as good as Liu Zhou that Han Shanping does this?

And if it weren’t for Han Shanping’s support, how could you, Feng Kuzi, be where you are today?
"Okay, it's okay to say this here, but don't say it outside."

Feng Kuazi actually just indulged in his boasting. Since "Party A and Party B" until now, he has been the object of flattery wherever he goes.

He no longer knew where his initial humility had gone.

However, he was not too arrogant at this time. He still knew the difference between the big and small kings, and knew that Han Shanping was not someone he could afford to offend.

Seeing that Feng Kuazi didn't say anything, Wang Zhongjun continued:

“In July and August, two Hollywood blockbusters, The Matrix 2 and Finding Nemo, will be released.

In addition, due to the flu, not many people go to the cinema to watch movies in the past two months, so these two months are not suitable.

In September, Jackie Chan's "Back to the Future" will also be released. This film also has a big cast and is not suitable to be released together with this one.

So I think we should put Cell Phone on hold until the end of October or November, Director Feng, what do you think?"

"There's nothing wrong with me."

You've explained the situation so clearly, what else could be the problem?

"If there is no problem, Zhonglei, please make a plan for the release."

"Okay, big brother." Wang Zhongjun lit another cigarette for himself, took a puff and said:
"Director Feng, do you have any plans to make a blockbuster movie?"

"Yes!" Feng Kuazi was no longer sleepy after hearing this. "I am planning to film 'A World Without Thieves'. I have already thought of the actors for this movie. I will cast Andy Lau as the male lead, and a popular actress from Hong Kong or Taiwan as the female lead. The box office will definitely be very good."

Although Feng Kuzi was very confident, after seeing "Hero", Wang Zhongjun felt that Feng Kuzi's comedy was a bit petty and the upper limit of the box office was just that.

"Director Feng, have you ever considered making a costume movie?"

"I've thought about it, but I don't have a script yet. Besides, I think A World Without Thieves is also very promising. I can make this movie first, and then make a costume movie."

"A World Without Thieves" has always been a script that Feng Kuzi really wanted to film. He has been polishing it for two or three years, but it has never passed the review before.

This time he hopes that Wang Zhongjun can help, and he will revise the script so that it can be approved as soon as possible.

When Wang Zhongjun saw Feng Kuzi's excited look when talking about "A World Without Thieves", he knew that there was no chance for him to film a costume film now.

He now suddenly regrets missing out on investing in "The Swordsman". Why did he suddenly become so timid in the first place?

"Okay, let's talk about the next movie later. Now let's finish the release of the movie "Cell Phone" first."

Liu Zhou had no idea what happened at Huayi, and even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

At this time, Liu Zhou was busy getting two TV series in his studio to be broadcast on TV stations.

Liu Zhou first contacted Kang Jianming.

As Shonan TV became popular with the drama "My Fair Princess", Kang Jianming's status also rose.

He used to be the poor director of Xiaoxiang Factory, but now he is the third in command of the powerful Xiangnan Radio and Television Group.

However, Liu Zhou is no longer the Wuxia A'mon at this time, and is now a well-known director in the country.

So the relationship between the two has always been good.

Therefore, he immediately agreed to Liu Zhou's request to broadcast a TV series from his own company on Shonan TV.

Liu Zhou quickly expressed his gratitude and said that he would treat him to a meal next time he came to the capital to show his gratitude.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Zhou couldn't help but sigh that relationships are the key to success.

Liu Zhou never thought that "Snow Goddess Dragon" would be able to be broadcast on Shonan TV immediately.

At this time, TV series are generally broadcast on local channels. If the ratings are good, they will be broadcast on satellite TV. Of course, if your TV series attracts everyone's attention from the beginning, that's another matter.

For example, "The Legend of Sword and Fairy", which was later regarded as a classic, was broadcast on local TV stations for several years before it was broadcast on satellite TV.

The drama "Snow Goddess Dragon" is neither a big production nor has any popular stars in the lead roles, so how is it possible that it can be broadcast on satellite TV immediately?

However, Liu Zhou is confident in "Snow Goddess Dragon". Although this TV series is a martial arts drama, its core is still a youth idol drama. Unlike other martial arts dramas that mainly talk about national hatred and family feuds, this is also the key to its becoming a dark horse.

Although Shonan TV at that time had not yet developed the characteristics of youth idols like in later generations, it also had a good foundation in this regard.

Maybe in this life, when "Snow Goddess Dragon" is broadcast on Shonan TV, the ratings will be even higher.

As for the negotiations on the TV drama deal with Shonan TV, both of them tacitly left it to their subordinates to discuss.

In addition to "Snow Goddess Dragon", there is also "Conquer". Liu Zhou was not too demanding and asked Kang Jianming to broadcast this TV series on Shonan TV.

Although this TV series will have good ratings, people will think you don't know how to behave.

So Liu Zhou planned to send this TV series to Guangdong East Satellite TV.

As a native of Guangzhou, Liu Zhou has maintained very good relations with the southern media since he became famous, and they are also very supportive of Liu Zhou.

Because Guangdong East Satellite TV is adjacent to Hong Kong, it has always been suppressed by TVB and ATV and has little presence in the province.

In this era when major satellite TV stations are still contending with each other, the ratings of Guangdong East TV are higher outside the province than within the province, which is also a great spectacle.

In later generations, satellite TV stations in those wealthy coastal provinces have risen one after another, but the satellite TV station in eastern Guangdong, which is the province with the largest economy in the country, is still in a stagnant state and has no sense of existence at all.

Now the ratings of major satellite TV stations are not too different, and Guangdong East TV still has some influence.

Relying on Liu Zhou's face, Guangdong East TV readily agreed to Liu Zhou's request, and did it in one step and broadcast it directly on satellite TV.

This made Liu Zhou once again feel the support from his hometown!

After the two TV series were finalized, Liu Zhou handed over all follow-up matters to Zhong Lifang.

And I wish her to take this opportunity to establish connections with these two TV stations.

Personal relationships become weaker every time they are used, so it is more stable to establish relationships of interest.

After Zhong Lifang reached an agreement with both TV stations, Liu Zhou flew to Shanghai with her.

The next day, the two came to a company in a small office building in the suburbs of Magic City. Looking at the simple office with only a dozen people inside, Liu Zhou did not look down on it at all. He smiled and said to the man sitting opposite him:
"Mr. Wu, how are your thoughts? I am very sincere in purchasing your website."

(End of this chapter)