The rules were announced, and the promotional war officially kicked off.
Of the eleven films that made the shortlist, all companies except for Feihe Pictures began purchasing water armies and trending topics to promote their releases on the fifth.
All the actors from each film also took to social media, canvassing for votes for their respective movies and urging fans to head to theaters on April 5th.
Trending topics, water armies, and celebrity endorsements were all standard operating procedures.
However, some companies with ample budgets employed even more ingenious promotional tactics.
For instance, Huanqiu Pictures directly deployed the company's private jet, carrying a group of renowned actors and directors on a promotional tour across the nation's first-tier cities.
Before arriving in each city, Huanqiu Pictures would even have paparazzi leak the schedules of the cast and crew, building anticipation for the film's promotion.
As soon as the plane landed in each city, a crowd of fans, holding banners and posters, would await their arrival outside the airport, drawing considerable attention.
Huanqiu Pictures' crew thus frequently appeared on the trending lists of the three major platforms.
For Paiwei International Pictures, following the arrest and imprisonment of Zheng Ying, the newly appointed chairperson was Hu Yuan, a thirty-eight-year-old iron lady.
Seeing Huanqiu Pictures' grand offline promotional efforts, Chairperson Hu Yuan was not to be outdone.
She immediately allocated a substantial sum from the company's finances for film promotions.
Chairperson Hu did not opt for offline promotions but instead focused on the internet, a hub of traffic.
She invested heavily, partnering with the three major social media platforms and five immensely popular online game developers.
The company's shortlisted films were transformed into two-minute short dramas and showcased on the homepage of the three platforms and on the login pages of online games.
Viewers who completed the two-minute short drama would receive a one-month social media membership, while online gamers would be gifted in-game items like Yuanbao.
It must be said that Hu Yuan's promotional methods were quite innovative.
She had, in essence, borrowed from the promotional model of Chuangwei Technology Company for their antivirus software, a disguised appropriation of Gao Fei's promotional strategies.
Following the promotions by Huanqiu Pictures and Paiwei International Pictures, other film companies began to adopt similar approaches.
On April 1st, from the online realm to reality, every available avenue was utilized by the ten film companies for movie promotions.
The reason each company spared no expense on promotions was simple.
Everyone had their sights set on the last sentence of the General Administration's announcement.
Shortlisted films that achieved the top three positions in terms of box office and purchases within ten days would be eligible for international cinema releases.
Furthermore, this was spearheaded by the General Administration of Radio, Film and Television of China.
This was not only a representation of the nation's films but also the best opportunity for every company, actor, and director to step onto the global stage.
While they enjoyed considerable domestic fame, they were mere minnows abroad.
Everyone harbored ambitions of venturing overseas, and this was their golden opportunity to do so.
Thus, the ten companies spared no cost in promoting their films, all for that coveted top-three spot.
While all companies were pouring their efforts into film promotions, Feihe Pictures remained conspicuously inactive.
The trending lists were dominated by the films of the ten companies; there wasn't a single trending topic related to Feihe Pictures.
Netizens, upon seeing this, were immediately perplexed.
Were Gao Fei and Wang He truly not planning any promotional activities for their film?
Or had they simply run out of funds for promotion?
Amidst the widespread curiosity of netizens, Feihe Pictures, due to its lack of promotion, coincidentally appeared on the trending list at thirtieth place.
Its presence on the trending list was largely thanks to the curiosity and bewilderment of the netizens.
Simultaneously, the paparazzi were also drawn to Feihe's lack of promotional activities.
They speculated that Gao Fei and Wang He must be planning a major surprise, and thus they needed to secure exclusive scoops.
Immediately, five or six paparazzi teams converged below the office building, ready to report on any breaking news from Feihe at any moment.
At Feihe Pictures.
The cast and crew, along with the company employees, were all glued to the trending lists.
Watching the ten companies frequently appear on the trending lists due to their promotions, while their own film had yet to be promoted, and seeing their company appear on the list solely for its lack of promotion, left everyone puzzled.
Were the two bosses really not planning any promotions?
In the office.
"Bosses, are we really not going to promote?" Director Liu asked the two bosses, who were engrossed in an online game, with a helpless tone.
Wang He glanced at him and pointed to Gao Fei, "Ask President Gao. Not promoting was his decision!"
"President Gao, say something. Do we really not need to buy trending topics for promotion?"
Gao Fei, while battling monsters in the game, replied, "We will definitely promote, but now is not the time. Don't rush!"
"Then until when?"
Liu Weiqiang, utterly confused by President Gao's intentions, hastily reminded him, "Among the shortlisted films, everyone except us is finding various ways to promote. If we don't keep up with this promotional fervor, we won't even get a taste of the spoils!"
After his words, Gao Fei did not respond immediately. He waited until he finished off the monsters before taking over the conversation. "Director Liu, you know that other companies are using all sorts of channels for promotion. Let's not even discuss their methods, but focus on the promotional costs."
He released the mouse and looked at the anxious Director Liu, continuing, "Huanqiu Pictures is using private jets to carry a group of actors to each first-tier city for promotion, with a starting cost of at least thirty million. Paiwei International Pictures, just by cooperating with the three major platforms, spent eighteen million on promotion. Add in the five game developers, and their expenses have exceeded forty million. Each company's current promotional expenditure is no less than ten million. As you know the company's financial situation, can we afford to promote the same way with the money we have?"
Liu Weiqiang opened his mouth, rendered speechless.
He was well aware of the company's financial state, with only a meager few million left.
Buying trending topics and water armies would be manageable, but to keep up with the promotional pace of other companies, Feihe Pictures would be bankrupt in no time.
"But... we can't just do nothing and not promote the film..." Director Liu sighed helplessly, slumping onto the sofa.
Seeing Liu Weiqiang's dejected demeanor, Gao Fei spoke, "We will promote, but we won't follow those who are throwing money around. We need to devise a clever strategy, to achieve the greatest benefit with the minimal expenditure."
Upon hearing this, Liu Weiqiang's spirits lifted. "President Gao, do you have a plan?"
Before Gao Fei could respond, the office door was pushed open.
Jin Qiqi walked in briskly and said, "Boss, we've tallied it up. There are a total of eight paparazzi waiting downstairs. If that's not enough, I can help you contact more people."
"That's enough!"
Gao Fei nodded and then turned to Wang He, who was sitting in front of the computer. "Brother Wang, let's begin!"
"Alright!"
Watching the three men acting suspiciously, Liu Weiqiang was full of questions.
Before he could ask, Gao Fei leaned in and whispered a couple of words in his ear.
Director Liu's eyes widened, and he stared at President Gao in disbelief. Promotions could be played this way?
A moment later, the company's "Big Four" left together, leaving behind a group of bewildered employees.
...
At 4 PM.
Just as the ten companies were showcasing their unique talents in promoting their films, a trending topic suddenly surged upwards.
"Shocking! Gao Fei has stooped so low as to collude with Wang He!"
The trending topic immediately attracted a large number of netizens.
Upon clicking the sensational news, they found the latest revelations from eight paparazzi accounts.
Each post from the accounts was similar to the trending news.
Below the posts were the candid photos taken by the paparazzi.
Although the candid photos were slightly blurry, they clearly depicted a group of young men and women partying in a villa's swimming pool.
The women were scantily clad, showcasing their perfect figures in bikinis.
There were only a sparse three men, playing with water guns by the poolside with five women.
Moreover, the paparazzi had meticulously circled Gao Fei, Wang He, and Liu Weiqiang with red circles and labeled them with their names.
After viewing the photos, the netizens were stunned!
Gao Fei's fans flooded the comment sections of the accounts.
"Impossible! Comrade Xiao Gao is not the type to indulge in lust; I refuse to believe it!"
"Since Comrade Xiao Gao became famous, there have been no gossip news, nor has he ever partied with beautiful women. It must be photoshopped by the paparazzi!"
"If those photos are indeed of Comrade Xiao Gao, then I can only say, Wang He, you scoundrel, you've corrupted our Comrade Xiao Gao!"
Gao Fei's fans refused to believe it was him, and even if they did, they squarely blamed Wang He for corrupting him.
As Gao Fei's fans shifted the blame, Wang He's fans quickly entered the fray.
"Young Master Wang has finally returned to normal life. This is the Young Master Wang we know!"
"I don't dislike Gao Fei, but I find Gao Fei's fans disgusting. Your Comrade Xiao Gao also has a private life and biological needs. Stop blaming Young Master Wang. They are men, normal men!"
"It's truly disgusting how those fans shift the blame. Why don't they blame these paparazzi for their reckless revelations instead of blaming Young Master Wang for corrupting Gao Fei? It's unbelievable!"
Gao Fei's fans and Wang He's fans began a heated argument in the comment section.
The onlookers, who were merely there to spectate, also joined in.
"Oh, isn't this the shining youth of our China? How come he's having a grand party now! Truly, you can know a person's face but not their heart!"
"I knew it. Gao Fei used to be a delinquent student; how could his character be that good! Now that he has money, he's started playing with girls like those second-generation rich kids! Gotta say, the girls in the photos are truly stunning, their figures and looks are incredible!"
"@Kyoto Police Department, hurry up and take a look, someone is holding an obscene gathering at a villa, come and arrest them quickly. And it's our online celebrity, Gao Fei!"
Thousands of anti-fans launched all sorts of mockery and repeatedly tagged various official accounts in the comment section.
The paparazzi's revelations were undoubtedly a bombshell.
Within half an hour of appearing on the trending list, it directly climbed to the top, with a popularity value exceeding tens of millions.
The trending topics of the ten film companies were all overshadowed by the popularity of Gao Fei and Wang He's party.
As the revelations continued to spread, more and more people paid attention.
Within an hour, the popularity value exceeded one hundred million.
Just as Gao Fei's fans were heartbroken and preparing to unfollow him, Director Ye from the General Administration was preparing to call him to offer some advice, and personnel from the military and police departments were getting ready to question him.
Another trending topic related to Gao Fei appeared on the list.
"Shocking! The five girls at the pool party actually have this kind of identity!"
(Dear readers, do you prefer romance novels, xianxia, or crime investigation thrillers? Which genre do you prefer? Please leave your comments in the comment section or chapter reviews. I will track and tally them.)