Chapter 38: Prince Zeng is so wise

The next day, Li Siming and Zeng Zhi had just arrived at the company. Mr. Lin came to the door.

"You have to compensate me!" Mr. Lin said straight to the point.

"Why, you can't get into trouble too, are you?" Li Siming was confused. If even the silver was not displayed, they would have lost all their money.

"How can this be done? I said that last night, movie fans broke some facilities when they were crowded. Shouldn't I ask for compensation?" Mr. Lin said with a smile.

"This. Our 'hateful work' was screened in the theaters of your company, and you have taken advantage of it. What's more, we can't get a penny for the copyright in the mainland!" Li Siming shouted.

"Well, for the sake of our happy cooperation, let's forget it. Who said we are partners?" Mr. Lin said "gracefully". Li Siming kept scolding in his heart.

"Mr. Lin came so early, wouldn't he just be doing this?" Zeng Zhi asked.

"Of course not!" Mr. Lin took out three newspapers from his briefcase, "Look at today's morning news!"

These three newspapers made Li Siming and Zeng Zhi wake up from the excitement last night. It turned out that the reporters did not think they were as flattered as they imagined. To be precise, they were mostly written in a picky tone, and some were criticizing the flaws, such as the article "Who Ambushed the Ten-Plane" criticized the film in a perfect way. More reporters didn't even report it at all. Wu mm's article had not yet been written, and her weekly magazine would not come out until Monday.

"What kind of tricks do you write about this? The primary school students write better than this!" Zeng Zhi felt a little satisfied with the crazyness of the movie fans last night, and immediately became furious again.

"Well, it's well written and very well-established!" Li Siming made a sound that surprised Zeng Zhi and Mr. Lin.

"I heard it right? Did you have a fever today?" Zeng Zhi widened his eyes and looked desperately without explaining it clearly.

In fact, this article did talk about the point. After the editing was completed, Li Siming felt it, but he didn't want to make a re-shoot, because it was an outdoor scene and could not be filmed. But fortunately, some of the obvious flaws that appeared in the original films, such as the original half-text and half-white lines, were not criticized because of Li Siming's revisions. In this era, movie reviews or news reviews were basically written by professionals in the circle. Unlike later generations, as long as they can surf the Internet and type, Amacao and Agou also went up to evaluate it, with a strong personal color and thought they had a "independent spirit", because only by cursing people can they appear different, attract others' attention, and get clicks.

"These reporters are quite professional and they are indeed very profound. But is this important? For martial arts films, the audience will only be interested in plots and fights. They pay more attention to visual art rather than bullshit 'hero' culture." Li Siming threw the newspaper in his hand on the table and said disdainfully.

"Isn't this a deception? It's already been screening in Mr. Lin's ten cinemas, so now the nonsense of these reporters will be watching

Everyone was misled," Zeng Zhi said worriedly.

"Before the official release, concentrate on dealing with independent cinemas, and as much as you can talk about," Li Siming said, Dashuai and others praised the movie. Zhang Hua claimed that it was the best movie he had ever seen, but Li Siming could not judge based on their opinions. They could only represent the popularity of the movie in the mainland, and this had nothing to do with Li Siming.

The crew members came to the company one after another, complaining that Li Siming and Boss Zeng were not interested enough, Lao Liu was even more serious, and Zeng Zhi apologized repeatedly and persuaded him to get it done.

On Saturday, May 23, the film was officially released. Li Siming and Zeng Zhi were guarding the phone in the office, waiting for reports from employees scattered to various cinemas to supervise the film. Li Siming, who was originally full of confidence, could only be like a farmer who relied on the weather to make a living.

"Today's daytime attendance rate is only 60%, and the lowest is less than 40%!" Some staff report.

"I understand!" Li Siming's expressionless face.

"The attendance rate tonight is only 70%!" Another staff report.

"Progress!" Li Siming was still as calm as ever.

Sunday, May 24.

"The attendance rate this morning was 80%!" Some staff members reported.

"It's okay!" Li Siming was a little happy.

“Tonight will be full.”

"Very good!" Li Siming was a little happy at this time.

On May 25, Li Siming and Zeng Zhi had just had breakfast and were about to go to the company when a manager called.

"Boss, it's not good!" the manager said anxiously.

"What happened? Tell me slowly!" Zeng Zhi's heart was in his throat. The box office is still slow. If something happens again, it will be all over.

"The ten cinemas in Yindu are surrounded!" the manager said anxiously.

"Why?" Li Siming changed the phone to "hands-free" state, "Isn't it a mess?"

"Just just started working today, everyone bought all the movie tickets for the show today. Others couldn't buy tickets, so they were trying to sell more!" said the manager.

"Is it someone else maliciously doing it?" Li Siming was a little worried about this problem.

"No. According to our observation, when ticket sales started early this morning, a large number of people came in to buy tickets. They were all movie fans, and some of them were familiar with us, not like those of the opponents." The manager explained.

"They won't do such stupid things. They don't care about our face, but also about my third uncle and Mr. Lin!" Zeng Zhi said.

"Then you're not afraid. Now I want you to send a notice to each cinema immediately. You can only pre-sale tickets for tomorrow. Each fan can only buy two at a time. You must post a notice in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the cinema. This matter must be fast! Don't make any trouble!" Li Siming immediately made a decision.

"We will definitely succeed, Ah Ming!" Zeng Zhi picked up Li Siming excitedly and squirted Li Siming's saliva.

Li Siming pushed him away: "You perverted guy, stay away from me! Don't be too proud. Now we can take the opportunity to increase our marketing efforts and win those independent cinemas."

"We can come to a 'surrounding the city in the countryside' and use these independent cinemas to siege those big theaters. When they see the benefits, they have to screen our cinemas unless they are willing to give up this part of their income." Zeng Zhi nodded.

Zeng Zhi was so proud that he left his Rolls-Royce and squeezed into Li Siming's BMW. Xiaodao drove the two of them to the cinema in the city.

The three of them arrived at the nearest cinema and were stunned when they saw the scene in front of them: there was a long queue of tickets at the entrance of the cinema, from the ticket entrance inside to the street outside, then lined up along the street to the intersection, and then turned a corner to the next intersection. The staff of the cinema and the staff sent by the Xiangjiang Film Company jumped up and down and sweated to maintain order. Those who were lined up behind kept complaining that the speed was too slow, and the people who bought the tickets were surrounded by onlookers as soon as they turned around, demanding high prices for transfers, and some even became scalpers. Some onlookers were also hired to line up to buy tickets. When the police saw signs of chaos, they also took the initiative to send police officers to patrol the scene, looking as if they were on the verge of battle.

Li Siming and Zeng Zhi went to nine other cinemas, and the same scene was also taking place.

"Go back to the company!" Li Siming and Zeng Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this time. Of course, they wanted to see the hot sale of movie tickets, but when they thought that there were so many movie fans who didn't buy tickets, they should cry.

Back at the company, the same situation was the same in the company: the bosses of the small cinema were crowded in front of the company's building and stared at the company's door, and the reporters from major media also looked at the entrance with long cannons and short tubes. Li Siming and Zeng Zhi felt that they were the rare animals on display in the zoo, attracting everyone's attention.

Seeing Boss Zeng and Director Li get out of the car, the crowd rushed to the front like a torrent, and the two of them turned around and wanted to escape. The poor security guards were squeezed into canned sardines, and their hats were squeezed to the ground at the first time and then trampled to pieces.

"Either raise the salary or add staff, otherwise you will stop doing it!" This is what the security guards think at this time.

Zeng Zhi jumped into the BMW, Li Siming got into the car, and Xiaodao didn't get out of the car at all.

"Gentlemen, ladies, please listen to the next word!" Zeng Zhi, who was standing on the roof of the car, started yelling. The reporters pressed the camera shutter one after another. As a result, a photo appeared in the evening newspaper that day and the morning newspaper the next day: Zeng Zhi stood on the roof of the car, waving his arms, like a revolutionary leader giving a speech, while our director Li hid in the car and pressed his face against the window, looking flustered.

With the cooperation of the "loyal" security guards, Zeng Zhi finally "coaxed" the reporters into the conference room, while the owners of cinemas of all sizes followed him into his office.

Li Siming always thought that the office was too big, but at this time Li Siming really felt that it was too small. The bosses were all together and there was no place to sit.

"The old rules of career, you have three or seven, you have three or seven, I have never said it!" This is the first sentence Zeng Zhi said.

"No problem, Boss Zeng!" The bosses had no idea of ​​bargaining at all.

"I would like to remind everyone that our copy number is limited. Because you have said you will not be screened before, we have not prepared too many copies!" Zeng Zhi took out a cigar, which was very stylish. In fact, he didn't like smoking cigars at all, and he didn't forget to throw one to Li Siming.

"Mr. Zeng must consider our company first. We have seven cinemas. As long as we release it, your company's new film will definitely be carried forward!" Someone took out a lighter and lighted a cigarette for him in a flattering manner. Zeng Zhi glanced at him. This guy was still disdainful of himself a week ago, but now he changed his face to be flattering. He felt very happy.

"Mr. Zeng, our company can give up half a share, what do you think?" Someone else expressed dissatisfaction.

"Mr. Zeng, we can also give up half of it!" When the others saw that they were behind, they also expressed their concessions.

"Let's do this. Any company with five cinemas is included in the first batch of companies to be released. However, it can only be screened for three days first, and then take turns to other companies. When we have enough copies, we will all let go. As for the concessions? I'll forget it. Everyone wants to make money, it's not easy!" Zeng Zhi stopped when he saw the opportunity. He didn't want to make a deal. If Li Siming made another movie next time, these people would be the ones who supported him!

"Crown Prince Zeng is so wise, we agree!" The owners of this small cinema could not wait to hold Zeng Zhi and kiss him, and those slightly larger cinemas naturally no longer have any objections because they have obtained the premiere rights. The one who should laugh most now is probably Mr. Lin from Yindu. His cinema has decided to screen the film 24 hours a day.

Zeng Zhi breathed a sigh of relief after "coaxing" the bosses of all sizes away.

"You are also crazy. Haven't we prepared enough copies long ago?" Li Siming said. He was very impressed by Zeng Zhi's performance just now.

"Of course, I'll swell his appetite first. I'm going to announce tomorrow that our copy is enough. At that time, they can only express their gratitude!" Zeng Zhi laughed.

"Then we should meet those reporters now!" Li Siming laughed, "This time we will let them stand on our side!"
Chapter completed!