Huayu: This director is pretty strong.

Chapter 157: Costume Change and the Rift in the Alliance

For three days, the snow and wind continued in the three northern provinces.

But inside the two hundred cinemas that have just changed their signs to "Yan Cinema Circuit," it's a completely different world.

Changchun Red Flag Cinema.

Zhao Jianlin stood in the projection room, watching the technicians dismantle the old film projector.

Oil-stained gears and heavy film reels were moved away, and a brand-new black digital projector was lifted onto a base, with cables connected to the server.

The technician pressed the Enter key.

"Boss Zhao, you have received the digital key from Yanying headquarters."

Zhao Jianlin walked to the projection window and looked down at the theater below.

The big screen is illuminated with clear light and shadow, and the colors are highly saturated. The image has eliminated all noise and scratches from the film.

The sound of shattering with tremendous physical impact came from the speakers. It was a test clip of "Broken Bridge," showing Lin Qingqiu smashing granite with his bloodied hand. The scene was so realistic that it made one's skin tighten.

"The picture quality...the sound..." Zhao Jianlin's voice was a little dry.

Within three days, Yanying Culture's logistics fleet and technical team worked day and night to install and debug all two hundred top-of-the-line European digital projectors.

The same scene was simultaneously played out in two hundred cinemas in Shenyang, Harbin, and Dalian.

BJ, top floor of China World Trade Center Phase III.

The meeting room of the five major cinema chains alliance.

Zhang Jianguo sat in his executive chair, his face grim.

Several termination notices were scattered on the mahogany table in front of me.

Mr. Li, the general manager of Dadi Cinemas, suddenly stood up and pointed at the documents on the table.

"Mr. Zhang, is this what you meant by 'foolproof'? Gaomeng Films unilaterally tore up our import agreement! The three most profitable European action films of the second half of this year have all been snatched up by Yanying!"

Mr. Liu, the general manager of Jinyi, held a teacup, his wrist trembling slightly.

"It's not just European films. The producers of those two Hollywood sci-fi films also refused to sell us the Asian rights. They said Yanying offered double the price."

Zhang Jianguo crossed his arms and placed them on his abdomen.

"Chen Yan used the prize money he received at Cannes, plus money from the European Independent Film Fund. He's using foreign capital to undermine our business."

"What's the point of saying all this now!"

Mr. Li slammed his hand on the table. "We have so many cinemas under our umbrella, and a huge chunk of our schedules for the second half of the year is empty! What are we going to fill that void with? Fill it with those terrible domestic films that nobody watches?"

Wang, the representative from China Film Group, adjusted his glasses.

"Our box office share in the north has dropped by 15 percent in the last three days. Those independent cinemas have switched to digital equipment, and their picture quality is even better than ours. The audience has all gone to their cinemas."

Zhang Jianguo picked up the pen on the table, removed the cap, and put it back on, repeating the same action over and over.

"No matter how rich Chen Yan is, he only owns two hundred cinemas."

Zhang Jianguo scanned the crowd. "We have two thousand screening slots. We'll continue with the 0.5% screening rate and crush him. Without our screenings, his 'Broken Bridge' won't recoup its costs."

Mr. Zhao from Hengdian closed the laptop in front of him.

"Mr. Zhang, let me remind you. 'Broken Bridge' has already grossed over eight million euros in its opening weekend in France."

Mr. Zhao stood up and picked up his coat.

"This film can break even without the domestic market. If we ban it, we'll only lose our own box office revenue."

After saying that, General Manager Zhao walked straight out of the conference room.

Mr. Li and Mr. Liu exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and then packed their things and left.

Only Zhang Jianguo and Representative Wang remained in the meeting room.

Zhang Jianguo slammed his pen down on the table, splashing ink and leaving a stain on the mahogany surface.

Yanying Culture Headquarters.

Su Wan sat in her office, looking at the film schedule data on her computer screen.

The landline on the table rang.

She answered the phone.

"Inkstone Shadow Culture"

"Mr. Su, I am Yu Dong, the Director of the Distribution Department of Polybona."

A gentle male voice came from the other end of the phone.

Su Wan's finger stopped on the mouse.

"Mr. Yu, what brings you here?"

"I heard that Yan Ying holds the exclusive rights to several Hollywood sci-fi films."

Yu Dong got straight to the point, "Bona has 300 directly operated cinemas, and we are very interested in these films."

"Bona is also a member of the five major cinema chains alliance."

Su Wan's gaze fell on the screen, where Bona Cinemas had also given "Broken Bridge" a screening rate of 0.5%.

"Business is business, and alliances are alliances."

Yu Dong's tone was relaxed. "Zhang Jianguo wants to create a monopoly, but Bona Film Group looks at the financial statements. Without good films, cinemas will starve."

"How would you like to collaborate, Mr. Yu?"

Su Wan asked.

"Bona is willing to break the league's ban."

Yu Dong offered his bargaining chip: "We'll give 'Broken Bridge' 15% of the screenings. All day, prime time. In exchange, we need the screening rights to those two sci-fi films. Revenue sharing will follow industry practice."

Su Wan took notes of these numbers.

"Twenty-five percent."

Su Wan's tone was flat. "The screening percentage of 'Broken Bridge' at Bona Film Group cannot be less than 25%. We can give you the screening rights for science fiction films, but you must guarantee that you will not engage in a price war with Yanying's independent cinemas in the three northern provinces."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"President Su has a big appetite."

"Director Chen's rule is that ability is the only factor in decision-making."

"Deal. I'll send someone to deliver the contract this afternoon."

Yu Dong hung up the phone.

Su Wan put down the receiver, walked out of the office, and pushed open Chen Yan's door.

Chen Yan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of black coffee in his hand.

"Bonan has switched sides. He's secured 25% of the screenings."

Suzhou Evening News Report.

Chen Yan took a sip of coffee.

"Zhang Jianguo's alliance is just a paper cage. Once the interests are severed, it will fall apart on its own."

He turned around and placed the coffee cup on the table.

Tomorrow is the premiere date of "Broken Bridge".

Chen Yan looked at the calendar on the table and said, "Notify Zhang Yuan to prepare all the promotional materials. Print the photo of the Palme d'Or trophy in the very center of every poster."

The next day.

Saturday, 9:00 AM.

Outside the Harbin Red Flag Cinema.

The snow stopped, and the snow on the street was cleared to create a passage.

Zhao Jianlin stood in the cinema lobby, looking at the crowd outside the glass doors.

The queue stretched from the ticket window all the way to the street corner, with hundreds of spectators bundled up in thick down jackets stamping their feet in the cold wind as they waited.

A huge poster for "Broken Bridge" hangs on the exterior wall of the cinema.

The black-and-white close-up of Lin Qingqiu with his buzz cut and injuries is visually striking.

At the very center of the poster, the golden branches of the Cannes palm shine brightly.

"Boss Zhao, all the tickets for the morning show are sold out! Eighty percent of the afternoon and evening shows are also booked!"

The ticket seller shouted into the walkie-talkie.

Zhao Jianlin rubbed his hands together. In his more than ten years in the industry, he had never seen a domestic art film with such a grand spectacle.

"Add more screenings! Schedule 'Broken Bridge' in every theater!"

Meanwhile, Wanda Cinema is located two streets away from Hongqi Cinema.

The spacious hall was deserted, with only a few scattered audience members looking at the film schedule.

On the screening schedule, the name of "Broken Bridge" was placed in the far corner, marked "Midnight Screening".

A member of the audience walked up to the ticket counter.

Do you have tickets for "Broken Bridge"?

"Sorry, we only have one show tonight at midnight."

The audience member frowned.

"What's going on? That lousy Hongqi cinema is showing it all day long, and your huge cinema isn't showing it at all?"

He turned and left, pushed open the glass door, and walked towards the Red Flag Cinema.

It's 11 p.m.

Yanying Culture Conference Room.

The projector displays real-time box office data on a white wall.

Zhang Yuan stood in front of the computer, constantly refreshing the page.

"The first day's box office figures are out."

He turned his head and looked at Chen Yan and Su Wan sitting at the conference table.

"Two hundred independent cinemas in the north contributed twelve million yuan in box office revenue. The average occupancy rate was ninety-five percent."

Su Wan opened the report in her hand.

"The data from Bona Film Group has also come through. With 25% of the screenings, they generated 8 million in box office revenue, and the occupancy rate was also saturated."

Chen Yan sat in the chair, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the table.

"Twenty million on the first day."

He looked at the numbers on the wall and said, "A realistic film without special effects or comedic elements."

"What about Zhang Jianguo?"

Chen Yan asked.

Zhang Yuan pulled up another set of data.

"Wanda, Dadi, and Jinyi's overall box office revenue dropped by 30% compared to last weekend. We've completely drawn away the audience."

Su Wanhe submitted the report.

"Zhang Jianguo tried to strangle us, but ended up bleeding himself dry. Tomorrow, the other cinema chains will definitely be restless and will come to us seeking reconciliation."

Chen Yan stood up and walked to the projection screen.

"Sue for peace?"

He looked at the steeply rising box office curve.

"Notify Lin Shufen to initiate the second phase of the plan."

Chen Yan turned around and looked at Su Wan, "Use this first-day box office revenue as leverage to get a mortgage loan from the bank. I want to acquire three hundred independent cinemas in major box office cities in the south within a month."

Zhang Yuan opened his mouth, then said, "Director Chen, we've just established ourselves in the north, and now if we move south, the cash flow will be too tight. Wanda's headquarters are in the south."

Chen Yan walked to the table, picked up the film scheduling agreement from the five major cinema chains, and tore it in half.

"The era of Zhang Jianguo setting the rules is over."

Chen Yan threw the shredded paper into the trash can. "I'm going to build my own cinema chain. From north to south, I'll completely destroy their livelihoods."

The meeting room door was pushed open.

Wu Gang walked in, his clothes still covered in unmelted snow.

"Director Chen."

Wu Gang walked up to Chen Yan and whispered, "Liang Qinian from the Laochang Street Police Station called. Lu Haiming is in the detention center and wants to see you."

Chen Yan stopped tapping his fingers on the table.

"What did he say?"

He said he had the original blueprints for the 1995 Beijing-Tongliao Expressway project.

Wu Gang continued, "Your father, Chen Jianguo, has signed the blueprints. He wanted to use these blueprints to save his life."

Chen Yan looked out the window at the night scene. The city lights gathered into points of light in his pupils and then quickly went out.

"Prepare the car."

Chen Yan picked up the coat from the back of the chair.