Guo Jiajia's idea was actually very simple: publicity and writing promotional articles.
Time was tight and the task was heavy. Upon receiving the assignment, Guo Jiajia didn't dare to rest for a moment, rushing to Port City overnight.
However, there was a slight hitch when coordinating with Stephen Chow.
Stephen Chow believed that good wine needs no bush. Given the success of "A Chinese Odyssey," the promotional budget for "King of Comedy" could be reduced.
The main reason was that Stephen Chow feared another failure and could not bear it. To achieve his desired effect, he had already spent a little too much money on "King of Comedy."
Stephen Chow wanted to save some money on promotion, which would help the production crew save some funds.
Guo Jiajia and Stephen Chow were at odds.
Stephen Chow also wanted to spend money, but he was afraid that the more he spent, the harder it would be to explain to the investors, thinking that the current situation was sufficient.
"You have to believe me. As an actor and a director, I am professional. This movie is the culmination of my countless efforts; it's my autobiography. Believe that it will be a success. Besides, the production crew is out of money. With the halo of 'A Chinese Odyssey,' the box office for this movie won't be bad."
Hearing Stephen Chow's words, Guo Jiajia was very dissatisfied. "We don't just want to break even. We invested in this movie very simply because we believe it can win awards and contend for the annual box office."
Upon hearing Guo Jiajia's words, everyone chuckled dismissively.
"Alright, Mr. Guo, we understand your feelings, but it's not just about having ideas. We also want to get the number one box office, but you can forget about that. Ah Xing is no longer a hot commodity. It would be good enough if this movie helps Stephen Chow return to the A-list."
"Exactly. As long as the box office doesn't collapse, your investors won't lose money, right? Stephen Chow had very high demands for this movie, and many scenes had to be shot countless times before they passed. You can rest assured about the quality of the film; it definitely won't lose money. It's just a matter of how much it earns."
Everyone's view of the movie was that it wouldn't lose money and would make a small profit, but they shouldn't expect too much.
This was because the film market was currently sluggish, and "A Chinese Odyssey" had already set a ceiling. Within such a short period, for Stephen Chow to make another movie that could contend for the annual box office was simply impossible.
The two sides reached a stalemate, and in desperation, Guo Jiajia had to call Zhang Tianxing.
"Their meaning is that there isn't much money left, so just promote it using the old methods. Anyway, the main market for 'King of Comedy' this time is Port City, and they don't have high hopes for the mainland market."
Zhang Tianxing frowned. This shouldn't be the case. The potential of the mainland market had far from been tapped. Relying solely on Port City would only yield so much money.
It definitely wouldn't lose money, but Zhang Tianxing wanted to earn more.
Port City alone was too small, with a limited population and limited box office revenue; it had to rely on the mainland.
Zhang Tianxing made a decisive call: "Tell them that we must have all-round promotion. We will cover any shortfall in funds. You decide the specific promotional plan. I know your efforts, and from now on, I will only look at the results."
Hearing Zhang Tianxing's words, Guo Jiajia knew what to do. It seemed her boss had big ambitions, and Zhang Tianxing didn't care about the box office in Port City alone.
In Zhang Tianxing's view, the box office in mainland China would definitely surpass that of Port City.
When Stephen Chow heard about Zhang Tianxing's additional investment, he secretly admired Zhang Tianxing. However, from his perspective, this money was unnecessary. With the success of "A Chinese Odyssey," "King of Comedy" could at least recoup its costs. However, with Zhang Tianxing's added investment, Stephen Chow dared not make any guarantees.
To be honest, Tianxing Investment Company was prompt with its payments and had no other troublesome issues.
At most, they recommended a female lead, but this Hao Fangfang was very dedicated and talented. Coupled with her basic skills from previous television dramas, Stephen Chow could tell at a glance that Hao Fangfang had unlimited potential and would soar to stardom.
She had the looks – those shapely legs and a delicate oval face – and talent. Her singing was just a little lacking, but as an actress, it was more than enough.
Although Stephen Chow was confident in his movie, he still felt unsure. He could only say that the movie moved him, and if it didn't move the audience, he would still fail.
Just then, Guo Jiajia finalized the promotional strategy.
"Don't be afraid to spend money. Use your experience to tell me, what do you think of the movie 'King of Comedy'?"
"Since you all recognize this movie, let's proceed according to our boss's wishes. There's no harm in spending money."
Stephen Chow felt a strange sense of gratitude towards Zhang Tianxing. After their last meeting, he had been feeling quite conflicted and uneasy.
He never expected that at his age, he would have to beg a young man for money. Then he thought, in the absence of heroes, youthful talent is also to be expected.
He never imagined that Zhang Tianxing would be so straightforward and so willing to provide funds.
He didn't make any excessive demands and didn't require female actors to provide favors like drinking or dining.
Such investors were truly rare. Stephen Chow had initially feared that Zhang Tianxing might make some unreasonable demands.
To his surprise, his only requirement was for it to be a Lunar New Year film.
"King of Comedy" aimed to be a Lunar New Year film, a goal that resonated deeply with Stephen Chow.
Having fallen into the second tier in recent years and failing at the box office year after year, he thought he would never have a chance with Lunar New Year films. Unexpectedly, Zhang Tianxing gave him an opportunity.
As mentioned before, Stephen Chow's brand was no longer potent, and he was considered a box office poison. Thus, Stephen Chow lived a rather stifled life.
Now, Stephen Chow was eagerly awaiting the release of "King of Comedy," hoping that in his middle age, he could experience a career resurgence.
The success of "A Chinese Odyssey" had given him hope.
Zhang Tianxing's words, "Whatever money you need, just say the word. My only requirement is that this Lunar New Year film is made for the people of the entire country. I hope you will bring your highest standards to it."
"You can do it, you are capable. The stage has been set for you. Whether you can create a miracle depends on you. I am just the investor."
"Mainland newcomer Hao Fangfang collaborates with former superstar Stephen Chow in 'King of Comedy' to compete in the Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year film race."
This news, once released, sparked countless reactions.
As Stephen Chow had predicted, the internet was flooded with criticism.
"Stephen Chow, you box office poison, trying to make money during the Lunar New Year season. Don't think that just because 'A Chinese Odyssey' was a hit, your films will be too. That was just a fluke. If you try to make money during the Lunar New Year, be careful you don't lose everything."
"Any washed-up actress trying to cash in on the hype of 'A Chinese Odyssey' is too naive. Besides, we've already paid our dues for your movies. We're not watching any more films by the box office poison!"