The phrase "Owe Star Master a movie ticket" became popular.
Zhang Tianxing acted without delay, finding Guo Jiajia and Yan Ruyu.
"Last time I bought the copyright for 'A Chinese Odyssey' from Xiying, and now it's being shown in theaters. Are there any problems?" Zhang Tianxing issued his first command.
"Boss, if you hadn't personally bought the copyright for this movie, I would have thought you'd forgotten about it," Guo Jiajia said with a hint of dissatisfaction.
Fortunately, she was meticulous in her work. After returning, she saw discussions about 'A Chinese Odyssey' online and quickly contacted the relevant parties.
The necessary release procedures had already been completed, and all that was needed was Zhang Tianxing's word to launch it in major cinemas nationwide.
"Boss Zhang, your taste is excellent. But what I'd really like to know is how this fire on the internet was ignited?" As a seasoned professional in the investment industry, Guo Jiajia knew that only by handling the details well could she truly succeed.
She couldn't figure out how Zhang Tianxing had managed to generate so much buzz for 'A Chinese Odyssey.'
She had watched the movie repeatedly and read countless reviews online.
She admitted it was a rare good film, albeit a bit difficult to grasp initially, requiring a second viewing for deeper understanding.
Furthermore, there was an inherent disadvantage: being split into two parts, the effect was not as strong when watched separately.
Zhang Tianxing pondered for a moment, then decisively declared, "Combine the two films into one. When can it be released at the earliest?"
Guo Jiajia was stunned by Zhang Tianxing's idea.
Combining two films into one would result in a runtime of over three hours. Chinese domestic films of such length were usually documentaries, which did not have strict box office requirements. However, 'A Chinese Odyssey' was a commercial film.
A direct two-in-one release would cut box office revenue in half.
"Boss, I don't think your decision is wise. With the current high popularity of 'A Chinese Odyssey,' releasing them as two separate parts better suits our economic interests. From a box office perspective, two films would generate higher revenue," Guo Jiajia couldn't understand what had gotten into Zhang Tianxing.
With two finished films, one part and the other, it was much simpler to release them directly.
She couldn't fathom why her boss was insisting on a two-in-one approach.
This would not only increase her workload significantly but also visibly reduce the company's profitability.
However, seeing Zhang Tianxing's confident demeanor, Guo Jiajia was quite annoyed.
Fortunately, she wasn't the boss. If she were, she would have fired Zhang Tianxing, her subordinate, in an instant.
His words were infuriating, like someone selling off their ancestral land without a second thought.
She was trying to do her best for him and had already planned ahead.
Yet, this boss offered no bonus, not even a word of praise, and directly proposed a two-in-one release.
Did he think the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television was his personal playground, that he could just combine films as he pleased?
Seeing Guo Jiajia's expression, Zhang Tianxing smiled and explained, "It's like this. These two films were shot together, originally intended as a single movie. It was only to maximize box office potential that they were split into two parts. However, neither did particularly well back then."
So, you admit they flopped back then, yet you want to combine them?
Guo Jiajia's tone was displeased, "People are just saying they owe Star Master a movie ticket now. But Star Master isn't as prominent as he used to be, having fallen to second-tier status. I think you're taking a risk."
"Follow my instructions. We only have one chance. If we succeed, great. If we fail, splitting them wouldn't have saved it either," Zhang Tianxing said sternly.
It seemed Guo Jiajia still lacked full obedience, perhaps not fully convinced.
Hearing Zhang Tianxing's words, Guo Jiajia fell silent. "Alright, you're the boss, you decide. I hope you're right. If it weren't for what happened on the road, I wouldn't be working for you." Guo Jiajia secretly made a face behind Zhang Tianxing's back.
Yan Ruyu finally found an opportunity to interject. "You two, our crayfish hot pot is in big trouble."
"What happened, Sister Yu? Don't worry, we're here."
"You still remember the crayfish hot pot? I can barely handle it alone. The restaurants around us have launched a coordinated attack against us." Yan Ruyu looked extremely anxious.
Guo Jiajia and Zhang Tianxing were discussing movie distribution earlier. Yan Ruyu didn't understand, so she let Guo Jiajia speak. Yan Ruyu had seen how busy Guo Jiajia had been these past few days.
She had initially thought her best friend had settled down to work there, but from their conversation, she gathered that Zhang Tianxing had done something on their trip, which is why Guo Jiajia agreed to stay for a while.
The flames of gossip ignited within Yan Ruyu. She no longer cared about the crayfish hot pot for the moment, as it wouldn't collapse in the next instant.
She looked at Zhang Tianxing, then at Guo Jiajia.
"Didn't something happen between you two on your trip? I feel like something's off."
Guo Jiajia shot Yan Ruyu a look and playfully punched her arm. "Put away your dirty thoughts. Nothing happened between us. It's just that on our way back, Zhang Tianxing encountered a human trafficking gang. I helped him recover some losses because he stepped up. Otherwise, this genius financial whiz wouldn't even bother with a college kid who hasn't even grown up yet."
The insult was potent, though the actual damage was minimal. Zhang Tianxing had considered letting her verify things but decided against it. True gold fears no fire. It seemed he had been holding back for too long.
However, after considering what Guo Jiajia had said, Zhang Tianxing realized the current predicament.
The once-brilliant Stephen Chow, after 'A Chinese Odyssey,' suffered significant setbacks, and his subsequent works seemed to lack soul.
In that case, there were only two areas to focus on: the depth of the story and the quality of the film.
These two aspects were certainly worth exploring, and Zhang Tianxing's point was valid.
The box office numbers were less important than ensuring the first shot wasn't a dud.
'A Chinese Odyssey' could be considered the first investment for Tianxing Investment Company.
Its success was crucial. Now that Guo Jiajia was in charge, she had to find a way to make it perfect.
This was where Guo Jiajia's exceptional abilities shone through.
Guo Jiajia grabbed her phone and began making a flurry of calls, then applied for three thousand yuan in promotional funds from Yan Ruyu.
Yan Ruyu approached Zhang Tianxing. "The money has been given to Jiajia. What about the crayfish hot pot restaurant? They've launched a targeted attack on our dishes."
"What kind of targeted attack?" Hearing Yan Ruyu's question, Zhang Tianxing realized he had overestimated the competitors' bottom line and became intrigued.
Their attempt to use force last time failed. Could this be a switch to the most unscrupulous price war?