Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 73 Breaking the Annual Record

Chapter 72 Breaking a Ten-Year Record (Seeking First Subscriptions for 2 Updates)

On August 31, in the evening, the parking area in front of the China World Hotel in Beijing had become a luxury car exhibition.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi are just the basic models; Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Lamborghini are also quite common.

Guests dressed in formal attire entered one after another, with flashes of light going off constantly, creating a scene comparable to a film festival red carpet.

Ten round tables were covered with champagne-colored tablecloths, and each table was decorated with exquisite fresh flowers and "The Witch" themed decorations in the center.

The main stage backdrop featured a giant movie poster with the words "Celebration Banquet for the Record-Breaking Global Box Office of 'The Witch', co-hosted by China Film Group and Light Chaser Pictures" below.

By 6:30 p.m., most of the guests had arrived.

The banquet hall was bustling with activity, filled with elegantly dressed people; almost half of China's entertainment industry had gathered there.

The Wang brothers, Zhongjun and Zhonglei, from Huayi Brothers, were sitting at a table next to the main table, talking in hushed tones.

"Big brother, look over there." Wang Zhonglei gestured with his chin toward the doorway.

Wang Zhongjun looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Jiang Yu was walking in side by side with a blond, blue-eyed foreigner, the two chatting and laughing. The foreigner was in his sixties, tall, wearing a well-fitting tailored suit, and had an extraordinary air about him.

"Lafella de Laurentiis," Wang Zhongjun said in a low voice, "the producer of 'The Forbidden Kingdom,' and now the president of Lionsgate Asia."

"Why is this foreigner so familiar with Jiang Yu?" Wang Zhonglei frowned. "The two look like old friends."

"Because Lionsgate handled the North American distribution of 'The Witch,' which grossed $3822 million, Lionsgate made a fortune." Wang Zhongjun took a sip of tea. "I heard that Light Chaser Pictures and Lionsgate are about to announce a collaboration on a blockbuster, with an investment of over $100 million."

Wang Zhonglei gasped: "Hundreds of millions of US dollars? This kid—he's really gone too far."

Not far away, Bona Film Group's Yu Dong was also talking quietly with Enlight Media's Wang Changtian.

"Old Wang, have you heard?" Yu Dong lowered his voice, "China Film Group got the investment for Inception, but Bona Film Group couldn't reach an agreement. The terms were too harsh, a 30% premium, and we could only get a portion from the Asian region."

Wang Changtian adjusted his glasses: "That's normal. Jiang Yu now has top-tier Hollywood resources and is qualified to ask for a high price. But Lao Yu, didn't you try to get anything else?"

"We secured audition opportunities for two Asian roles," Yu Dong said. "We've already submitted the information of several new talents from our company. The final decision rests with Nolan, so it's hard to say."

"It's better than nothing." Wang Changtian looked in Jiang Yu's direction. "This kid, with just one movie, 'The Witch,' broke the record that 'Titanic' had held for ten years—our Enlight Media has been making movies for so many years, and our highest-grossing film is only 1.2 million."

"Times have changed," Yu Dong remarked. "Industrialized production combined with genre-based storytelling—this path seems to be truly viable."

On the other side, Huo Wenxi of the Sound Emperor was whispering with Nicholas Tse and Charlene Choi.

"See that? That's real talent," Mani Fok said in Cantonese. "One movie, over 70 million US dollars worldwide, and the lead actress, Wang Zhi, went straight from newcomer to A-list. Ah Sa, if you had that kind of opportunity—"

Ah Sa stuck out her tongue: "Sister Huo, this kind of opportunity is rare. But I heard that Light Chaser Pictures is about to launch a new project, should we—"

"We've already made contact," Mani Fok said.

Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall.

Third Master Han has arrived.

The head of the Chinese film industry looked energetic today, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit.

Beside him were Mr. Ren, the general manager of Shanghai Film Group, and Mr. Wu, the director of Xi'an Film Studio. The three of them walked and talked, exuding a powerful aura.

"Third Master is here!"

"Hello, Mr. Ren!"

"Director Wu, it's been a long time!"

Many people stood up to greet him, and Han Sanye responded to each one with a smile.

He walked to the head table and sat down, glancing at his watch: "Where's Jiang Yu?"

"Talk to the Lionsgate people over there," Mr. Ren pointed.

"This kid has really made something of himself now," Director Wu remarked. "If only Xi'an Film Studio could produce someone like him—"

"It's impossible." Han Sanye was very direct. "Our system can't cultivate this kind of cross-disciplinary talent. He's a unique combination of Hollywood and the Chinese market."

Just then, an even bigger commotion arose at the door.

Lu Yang appeared with the main creative team of "The Witch".

Director Lu Yang wore a black suit today, his hair was neatly combed, and he had a shy but confident smile on his face.

Beside him was the female lead, Wang Zhi. Today, the girl wore a light blue suspender dress, with exquisite makeup and a fresh temperament with a touch of sexiness. She had completely shed the naivety of a newcomer.

Following them were Jiang Wenli, Zu Feng, Zhu Yilong, and Wang Zhiwen, who made a cameo appearance.

As the group walked in, the entire room erupted in enthusiastic applause.

"Director Lu! Congratulations!"

"Wang Zhi! Your acting was superb!"

"Teacher Jiang!"

"Teacher Zu Feng!"

Reporters in the media area frantically snapped photos.

Lu Yang waved somewhat awkwardly, while Wang Zhi smiled elegantly, behaving very appropriately.

Yang Siwei quickly went to greet them and guided them to sit at the main table, right next to Master Han.

"Director Lu, you're the star of the show today." Master Han smiled and patted the seat next to him. "Sit here."

"Third Master, I'll sit next to you—" Lu Yang said nervously.

"Sit down when I tell you to." Master Han said firmly, "A director with 3.65 million yuan at the box office deserves to sit here."

Lu Yang then sat down, his back ramrod straight, clearly still a little reserved.

Wang Zhi was seated next to Jiang Yu.

After she sat down, she curiously looked at the various bigwigs in the banquet hall; these were people she had only ever seen on television and in magazines before.

"Are you nervous?" a gentle voice asked in my ear.

Wang Zhi turned her head and saw that Jiang Yu had arrived at some point and was pulling out the chair next to her to sit down.

"A bit—" Wang Zhi said honestly, "President Jiang, this is too much of a show of force."

"You'll get used to it." Jiang Yu smiled. "There will be many more occasions like this in the future. Relax, you're one of the heroes today."

""

"I dare not accept the title of a meritorious official; it was you who gave me the opportunity," Wang Zhi said sincerely.

"The opportunity was given to you; whether you could seize it was up to you," Jiang Yu said. "You seized it, and you seized it beautifully. So, stand tall."

Wang Zhishen let out a soft breath and nodded.

On the other side, Lafella de Laurentiis was seated on the other side of the main table.

The Italian-American Hollywood producer was clearly interested in this Chinese-style banquet, as he was taking pictures with his phone.

"Jiang, this hall is even bigger than the Oscar banquet hall," he said in English with an Italian accent. "The scale of banquets held by the Chinese is always astonishing."

"Because we are also celebrating a great achievement." Jiang Yu responded in fluent English, "The Witch made $7266 million worldwide. Lionsgate must have made a lot of money, right?"

Raffi laughed heartily: "Of course! Of course! That's why I flew to Beijing in person. Jiang, our Lionsgate board of directors has a very high opinion of you and Light Chaser Animation. The collaborations on 'Lurking' and '2012' are just the beginning; we hope to have more collaborations in the future."

"That's what I think too." Jiang Yu raised his glass. "To our cooperation."

"Looking forward to cooperating!"

Many people witnessed the two clinking glasses.

What this means is clear to everyone; Light Chaser Animation's partnerships in Hollywood are continuously deepening and expanding.

At 7:00 AM sharp, the celebration banquet officially began.

The host, a publicity director from China Film Group, came on stage. He was very eloquent and quickly enlivened the atmosphere with just a few words.

"Distinguished guests, friends, good evening! Tonight, we gather here to celebrate a milestone achievement for a Chinese film: 'The Witch' breaks global box office records!"

There was thunderous applause.

"First of all, let's give a warm round of applause to Lu Yang, the director of 'The Witch'!"

Lu Yang stood up, waved somewhat shyly, and the applause grew even louder.

"And our excellent leading cast: Wang Zhi, Jiang Wenli, Zu Feng, Zhu Yilong, and Wang Zhiwen!"

The entire creative team stood up and bowed in gratitude.

"Of course, there's also Mr. Jiang Yu, the founder and chairman of Light Chaser Pictures, the film's producer and driving force!"

Jiang Yu stood up and nodded to the audience.

His demeanor was calm and composed, unlike that of a twenty-five-year-old.

The host continued, "Before announcing the specific figures, I'd like to ask everyone here a question: How many years did the highest box office record in China stand?"

Someone in the audience shouted, "Ten years!"

"Yes! Ten years!" the host exclaimed excitedly. "From 3.6 million yuan for *Titanic* in 1998 to 3.21 million yuan for *Red Cliff Part I* this year, this record has been like a mountain weighing on the hearts of Chinese filmmakers. And today, that mountain has been overthrown!"

The large screen lit up, displaying a line of large gold text:

The Witch's domestic box office: 3.65 million RMB!

The entire venue erupted in cheers.

"3.65 million! Surpassing Titanic's 3.6 million! Setting a new box office record in the Chinese film market!"

The host's voice practically lifted the roof off, "Not only that, this film grossed $7266 million worldwide, including $3822 million in North America, ranking third in the history of Chinese films' North American box office!"

Detailed data scrolls across the large screen:

Domestic box office: 3.65 million RMB; North American box office: 3822 million USD; other regions: 3444 million USD; global total: 7266 million USD. The host exclaimed, "What does this mean? It means this is a huge commercial success, and even more so, it means that the path to industrialization of genre films in China has been successfully paved!"

Applause, cheers, and whistles filled the air.

Lu Yang's eyes welled up with tears, and Wang Zhi was also secretly wiping away hers.

From an unknown newcomer to a box office record-breaking movie leading lady, the leap in between is as big as a dream.

Jiang Yu looked at the data on the stage, his expression calm, but a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

This is the first Chinese film project he truly led after his rebirth. From selecting the director and actors to controlling the production and global distribution, every step was done according to his plan.

Now, the results speak for themselves.

The host invited Master Han to come on stage and speak.

Han Sanye walked onto the stage, took the microphone, and looked around the audience: "Standing here today, I am very excited and gratified. I am excited because Chinese cinema has finally overthrown the mountain that has weighed on us for ten years; I am gratified because it was our own films, our own directors, actors, and production teams that pushed down this mountain."

He paused, then continued, "The success of 'The Witch' proves one thing: Chinese films are not limited to period epics, star power, or mundane family dramas. We can make science fiction, we can make genre films, and we can produce competitive works in an industrialized way."

"More importantly," Han Sanye looked in Jiang Yu's direction, "the success model of 'The Witch' is replicable. It has a complete business model, a standardized production process, and professional teamwork. This is the direction that Chinese films truly need for the future."

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause once again.

.

After Han Sanye finished speaking, the host invited Lu Yang to come on stage.

Lu Yang walked onto the stage and his hand trembled slightly as he took the microphone.

He looked at the sea of ​​people below the stage and took a deep breath.

"First of all, I want to thank Mr. Jiang." His voice resonated throughout the venue through the speakers. "More than a year ago, when I held the script for 'The Witch,' I was very nervous. Without his trust and support, there would be no 'The Witch' today."

He turned to Jiang Yu and bowed deeply.

Jiang Yu smiled and nodded from below the stage.

"Secondly, I want to thank my team," Lu Yang continued. "Wang Zhi, you put in so much for this role. Two months of closed training, practicing until you were exhausted every day, but you never complained. Teacher Jiang Wenli, Teacher Zu Feng, Zhu Yilong, Teacher Wang Zhiwen, each of your performances added brilliance to this film."

"Finally, I want to thank all the audience members who went to the cinema." Lu Yang's voice was a little choked up. "It was with your movie tickets that you showed us that good stories and meticulous productions deserve support. Thank you!"

He bowed again, and thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Next, Wang Zhi took the stage.

The girl behaved very well today; although you could tell she was nervous, her speech was fluent and natural.

"Thank you, General Manager Jiang and General Manager Yang, for giving me the most important opportunity of my life. Thank you, Director Lu Yang, for your guidance and trust during filming. Thank you to all the senior members of the crew for your care and guidance. This role has changed my life, and I will always remember it."

She paused, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "Thank you to my parents as well, for always supporting me in pursuing my dreams. I will continue to work hard and live up to everyone's expectations."

Zhou Xun, sitting in the audience, looked at Wang Zhi with a complicated expression.

This newcomer, who was virtually unknown just a few months ago, has now reached the pinnacle of Chinese cinema.

"Talented people emerge in every generation," she sighed softly.

Li Binbin, who was standing next to him, nodded: "If this strategy of Light Chaser Pictures really works, it will be easier for newcomers to stand out in the future."

"It's also more brutal," Zhou Xun said. "Industrialization means standardization, which means substitutability. Today it could be Wang Zhi, but tomorrow it could be Li Zhi or Zhang Zhi."

"So we have to transform," Li Binbin said. "We can't just rely on the domestic market anymore; we need to have real skills to compete internationally."

Finally, the host invited Jiang Yu to the stage.

When Jiang Yu walked onto the stage, the entire audience fell silent.

Everyone wanted to hear what this young man who had created a miracle had to say.

"Thank you, Master Han; thank you, Director Lu Yang; thank you to all the main creators." Jiang Yu's opening remarks were concise: "The Witch"

The success is a success for the team, a success for the industrialized production system, and a sign of the maturity of the Chinese film market.

His voice was steady and strong: "Many people ask me why I dared to use a new director and a new actor, and invest $2500 million to make a science fiction film? My answer is: because I believe in professionalism. The professionalism of the director, the professionalism of the actors, the professionalism of the technology, and the professionalism of the management."

"From its inception to its release, 'The Witch' had a complete business model, a standardized production process, and strict quality control. We weren't gambling; we were doing something we were confident about."

Jiang Yu looked at the audience and said, "This is what Light Chaser Pictures aims to do: to produce high-quality genre films in an industrialized way."

He paused, then dropped a bombshell: "Today, I'd also like to announce something: Light Chaser Pictures will be launching a young director support program. Over the next five years, we will invest 300 million RMB to support five promising young directors and produce ten genre films. As long as you have a good story and professional skills, Light Chaser Pictures will give you a chance. In addition, our first new director project is currently in preparation; casting and filming will begin at a later date."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

3 million! 5 directors! 10 movies!

This is like mass-producing the model of "The Witch"!

Master Han nodded and smiled from below the stage. This young man certainly had a broad vision.

"Furthermore," Jiang Yu continued, "the film production base project we are currently preparing to build has entered a substantial stage of development. This base will integrate pre-production development, filming and production, post-production special effects, technology research and development, and talent training, with the goal of creating a benchmark for the industrialization of Chinese cinema."

Another bombshell.

Some people in the audience had already started doing quick calculations: with the 3 million support plan and the production base, Light Chaser Pictures is going to build a complete industrial ecosystem!

After Jiang Yu finished speaking, the entire audience stood up and applauded.

At that moment, everyone understood that a new era for Chinese cinema had truly arrived.

The atmosphere became even more lively after the banquet officially began.

The main table became the liveliest spot.

People kept coming over to toast Lu Yang and Wang Zhi, and even more people wanted to strike up a conversation with Jiang Yu.

Raffira de Laurentiis sat next to Jiang Yu the whole time, and the two chatted amiably in English.

"Jiang, what you just mentioned about the film production base is very interesting," Rafira said. "The Hollywood model has its advantages and disadvantages. If it can be combined with China's strengths, it might really be able to find a new path."

.

"That's exactly what I want to do," Jiang Yu said. "Rafila, is Lionsgate interested in getting involved?"

"Of course!" Rafila's eyes lit up. "We can provide funding, technology, and experience. Lionsgate can become an international partner for this base."

"Then let's discuss it in detail."

"good!"

On the other side, Wang Zhi was surrounded by people from all walks of life.

Some came to offer congratulations, some to hand out business cards, some to ask for acting opportunities, and some to confess their feelings.

A producer in his thirties approached with a wine glass, beaming, "Ms. Wang, you acted wonderfully! I have a project that would be perfect for you, and the fee is negotiable—"

Wang Zhi responded politely, but his eyes kept glancing towards Yang Siwei.

Lu Yang was also surrounded by a group of people.

Directors came to learn from our experience, producers came to ask for our next film, and investors came to discuss collaborations.

"Director Lu, have you got any ideas for your next film?"

"Director Lu, our company has a project that would be perfect for you—"

"Director Lu, could you please leave your contact information?"

Lu Yang was a bit overwhelmed, but Yang Siwei came to his rescue: "Everyone, Director Lu is preparing for a new project. For specific cooperation details, please contact our company's project department."

She pulled Lu Yang out of the crowd and whispered, "Director Lu, President Jiang wants you to come over. Director Zhang Yimou wants to see you."

"Director Zhang?" Lu Yang's eyes widened.

"Yes, it's over there."

Lu Yang followed Yang Siwei over and, sure enough, saw Zhang Yimou talking to Jiang Yu.

This national-level director was dressed simply today, but he exuded a powerful aura.

"Director Zhang, this is Lu Yang, the director of 'The Witch'," Jiang Yu introduced.

"Hello, Director Zhang!" Lu Yang bowed quickly.

"You're welcome," Zhang Yimou said with a gentle smile. "The film was very well made, the pacing was excellent, and the special effects were used appropriately. Young man, you have a bright future."

Overwhelmed with gratitude for Zhang Yimou's praise, Lu Yang was so excited he didn't know what to do with his hands: "Thank you, Director Zhang! I still have so much to learn—"

"Let's learn from each other," Zhang Yimou said. "I'm currently working on a historical epic, which might require some fresh perspectives from young directors like you. We can discuss it sometime."

"Definitely! I'll be ready to offer my guidance, Director Zhang, at any time!"

It's lively here, and it's lively there too.

Huo Wenxi from the Music Emperor Group brought Nicholas Tse and Charlene Choi over to offer a toast.

"Mr. Jiang, congratulations!" Huo Wenxi raised his glass. "The Witch has been a huge success, bringing honor to Chinese cinema!"

"Mr. Huo, you're too kind." Jiang Yu raised his glass in acknowledgment.

"President Jiang, I heard you're about to launch a new project?" Mani Fok asked tentatively.

"Several are in the process of preparation," Jiang Yu said. "Is President Huo interested?"

"Of course! The Sound Emperor has resources in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, so we can cooperate."

"Okay, let Siwei connect with you."

Nicholas Tse also raised his glass: "Mr. Jiang, congratulations."

"Thank you. I heard you own a post-production company?"

"Yes, it's still quite small," Nicholas Tse said. "I find it quite interesting."

"That's good, there's no harm in developing more." Jiang Yu nodded. "We'll have opportunities to cooperate in the future."

Ah Sa politely offered a toast without saying much, but her eyes kept secretly observing Jiang Yu: this legendary genius producer was younger and more charismatic than she had imagined.

The celebration banquet continued until after 9 p.m., and the atmosphere remained lively.