"Those who present awards will be awarded, and those who will be awarded will be rewarded at the box office!"

Austin said stiffly, "What you said is just a few examples, it is not difficult to represent all, at least the current Chinese movies that can achieve high box office are all leftovers that have already been played in the United States, such as your "Wolf Warrior", which is the type of retired military gods and lone heroes that existed in the United States in the 80s, and you have to admit that this movie can enter the top 100 of the global box office, 99% of it depends on the Chinese box office, and 99% of these 99% are 50% because of your country's policies and support. But in the U.S., it doesn't work. ”

"Mr. Austin, I think you have many misunderstandings!"

Li Zhifan said with a smile, "First of all, the policy and support for this thing is still to watch movies, not because I make Chinese-language movies, if your movies can satisfy the appetite of our government, they will also support you, right......? Can you make it? Can you dare to make it? No, you used to be a generation of thoughtful filmmakers, but now you can only make sci-fi adventure movies that pick up people's teeth. With similar themes to your new film, I know only "Project Bee", "One-Eyed", "Riddled with Holes", "Darkness and Blood", "Black Ride" series, and "Crazy Fly" series. If it were put on other schedules, you might be able to dominate this movie, but not this time, because you chose the wrong schedule and met me!"

"You?"

Austin also smiled, "I know your new film will be released on the same day as me, although this is China, it doesn't mean that I will lose to you!"

"No, you're not losing to me!"

Li Zhifan said word by word, "You will lose to most of the Chinese movies released at the same time, don't you believe it?

"You !!"

Austin finally got angry, this kind of provocation was something he had never seen before, and he treated each other politely to any country he went to before, but he didn't expect to meet Li Zhifan, a difficult guy here.

"The iron law of adventure movies: first, it is the Virgin who lives to the end, and she doesn't look down on vulgar things! Second, the final decisive battle site contains a crisis, and it is not possible to collapse without the heavens and the earth! Third, in addition to the villain, the iron triangle of character relationships: beauty, hero, and harlequin!"

Li Zhifan crossed his fingers and said, "If it is not surprising, you will definitely make a sequel to this movie, because "Insect Day" is not bad at the North American box office, and friends who have watched it say that the ending is full of suspense, involving the secret of some alien treasure, hehe, with all due respect, this kind of popcorn movie, you really don't need to make a second one, it is better to make some valuable and meaningful movies when you were young." ”

After hearing Li Zhifan's words, Austen's anger suddenly disappeared.

Thinking of the movies he made when he was young, but he brought himself a lot of honors, but now he has completely become a slave of commercial films, when he was young, he participated in the conception of his film scripts, but now he has a team, which is completely produced by the film company, and he is only responsible for shooting.

But even though the anger is gone, there is still some upset, and he hummed: "Okay! You don't like my new film, so we might as well make a bet, how about it?"

"Bet?" Li Zhifan smiled, "How do you want to bet?"

In fact, Li Zhifan not only judged that "Insect Day" would lose to himself from two aspects: picking up people's teeth and popcorn movies.

It's judged by everything that is synthesized from the actor to the director.

The first is the cast, every actor in the movie "Insect Day" is not familiar to Chinese audiences, the male and female protagonists are newcomers who have just debuted in the United States, the only thing that can make Chinese pay for it may only be a supporting actress in the villain team, is looking for a Chinese actress, but unfortunately this actress has been playing a supporting role in Hollywood, and Chinese audiences are even stranger to her.

The second is the director Austen himself, Austen's early years of filming, those literary and young films, were praised as god films in the beep, and all the commercial films that were later transformed into films, although they were big sellers, were trampled into the garbage heap by the literary youth.

It can be said that Austen is a polarizing director.

There may still be a small number of beep young people who look forward to him, but for the Chinese public, Austen himself is not a well-known "international director" at all.

Prior to this, he only had a movie released in Xiangjiang, China in 09, and the box office only achieved 30 million Hong Kong dollars, this time can be said to be his first time to have a film released in Chinese mainland, but also to see the mainland film box office market skyrocketing, and many Hollywood directors have won good gains in the Chinese market, only to feel that they can do it this time.

The most important thing is that Li Zhifan's "Infernal Affairs" was released on the same schedule as him, as long as the box office of "Insect Day" is not as good as "Infernal Affairs", even if he takes one billion, it will be regarded as a failure.

Li Zhifan is convinced that Austen and his new film are not as appealing and influential as himself in the Chinese market, so he dares to speak like this.

What he didn't expect was that Austin actually proposed a bet!

Of course, Li Zhifan was excited and funny.

When the reporters present heard this, they all rushed over and looked at the two of them expectantly.

"We're betting on the box office!"

Austin arrogantly said, "I don't take advantage of you, just bet on the box office of the two movies in Chinese mainland, who is higher than whom, for a month, and whether you want to postpone or lower the file after a month, it is not within the scope of this bet!"

"If I lose...... I'll never release a movie I'm involved in in China, and I'll never make a sequel to "Insect Day," and I'll go back to making a literary film next time! But if you lose, you have to apologize to me publicly! And never set foot in the Hollywood market!"

After saying this, all the reporters, media and insiders at the scene frowned and their hearts tightened.

Except for those Asian directors in Japan and South Korea who crossed their arms and sneered at the show, all Chinese directors, regardless of the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, all mentioned Li Zhifan and sweated.

Such a bet is not big, at least it does not say who loses and who quits the film industry, or even quit the entire entertainment industry.

But it's not small, if Austin really gives up the Chinese market forever, and Li Zhifan gives up entering Hollywood forever, it will be a big loss for both of them, at least a part of the future that is destined to be missing.

However, Austin is an extreme racist, once because the black president of the United States came to power, led all the employees of his three film companies to strike and resist, this time to China to promote is actually unwilling, if he really likes China, as early as ten years ago in Chinese mainland can release his film.

And Li Zhifan's development is not just about movies, but about the entire entertainment industry, and he has never had the idea of entering Hollywood.

So for both of them, the current bet is actually not too fatal.

In Austen's case, the only thing that may have been fatal was the investment company behind him, because he could not enter the Chinese market and gave up his investment in the films he would make in the future.

"Okay!" Li Zhifan answered, "Just follow what you say!"

"No, no, no!"

At this moment, a middle-aged white man jumped up from behind Austin, waved his hand and shook his head again and again, "You bet so hastily, it's just an international joke? Unreasonable! Austen, I advise you not to have the idea you just had! And this little Chinese friend, you are still young, you are not worth playing so big, and your future path is not sure at all, isn't it? After all, Austen is an elder in the circle, and even if you have blockbuster movies and support your mainland audience, you will never be able to make a movie like "Beautiful Island." ”

This person seemed to be making peace, but in the end he satirized Li Zhifan.

"Beautiful Island" is a literary film made by Austen when he was young, which can be called a world-class tear-jerking movie, although the box office is not high, but the word of mouth has been passed down, and it is also a Bible-level art film in China's literary and youth circles.

Li Zhifan didn't take this stubble, and smiled: "Maybe! I only look at the future, not the past! If you don't have confidence and think that the stakes are too big, forget it!"

"What? I'm not confident?"

Completely ignoring the white man's hints, Austin jumped up from his seat and said angrily, "Boy, do you really think that if you make a few blockbuster movies, the world will be yours?

Instead, he looked around and said, "But I hope it's a fair game, I don't know if there are any official people on the scene?

After speaking, Austin seemed to think of something, and turned his head to look at Wang Dewei: "Chairman Wang, this request must be agreed!"

Wang Dewei is already sweating profusely, the so-called gods are fighting, he is the chairman of a local cultural development bureau, where can he speak in turn?

Regarding Austen's request, Wang Dewei looked bitter and couldn't agree.

When it comes to scheduling films in the mainland, where can he be the master?

I can't even speak!

Li Zhifan smiled again at this time and said: "Since you have made this request, don't worry, I will negotiate with the major theaters, but they are all capitalists, everything depends on money, and I can only ensure that the first week's film schedule is consistent." A week later, if that movie doesn't sell well and you have to lower the schedule, you can't let the theater lose money, right?"

Austen was conceited: "Okay, that movie schedule is limited to one week! I respect the major theater chains, if my movie box office is not good, they lower my film schedule, I have nothing to say! But if you get in the way, then this bet will be considered a loss for you!"

Cut! Can you do it?

Li Zhifan finally showed a contemptuous smile in front of Austin, and it was undisguised contempt.

"Don't worry, I'll convince you of losing!"

"And!" Austin added, "In case you don't recognize it later, we've made it public on each other's social platforms, how about it, do you dare?"

Why?

Li Zhifan couldn't help but greet Austin's family in his heart.

How many followers does his official blog have?

How influential is his sentence on the official blog?

How many messages does each of his official blogs have?

Isn't this trying to advertise him in disguise?

When everyone knows Austen's "Insect Day", won't it increase the box office for him?

"Let's make a note!"

Li Zhifan said coldly, "It is impossible to speak publicly on social platforms! I hope that the media present will not make this matter public, and I don't want to affect this competition because of my personal influence." Of course, a month after the release, we can take pictures of each other's notes and upload them to social platforms, how about it?"

Austin was originally proud, this is a hype opportunity sent to the door for nothing!

If Li Zhifan really agreed to him, it would be more cost-effective than how many cities he ran in the mainland.

But I didn't expect Li Zhifan to be quite smart, and he was unwilling to do this.

Austin is not the kind of person who dares to be shameless, and agreed immediately: "Okay!

As soon as the reporters around heard this, they knew that this wishful thinking had come to naught, and that the news would have to be postponed until at least February next year, when it would be old news.

Most of these reporters at the scene are professional media with ethics, not those paparazzi tabloids who write lace news, and after this incident, whether it is Li Zhifan or Austin, they will definitely give them red envelopes, which is the rule of the trade.

……

Next.

The news of Austin's visit to China and his speech at the Asian Filmmakers Conference in Xiangjiang made the news.

However, the major media did not expose his gambling contract with Li Zhifan, and he was really ethical.

There must be normal publicity, Austin promotes a city every day, all the publicity activities are personally present, and there are also many variety shows in the mainland.

And the publicity activities of Li Zhifan and "Infernal Affairs" have also been officially launched.

Contrary to Austin, Li Zhifan and the production team of "Infernal Affairs" still stayed in Xiangjiang to shoot, and did not tour the country to promote it, but on the Internet, the publicity about "Infernal Affairs" was extremely enthusiastic.

All the major fast blog self-media came to the battlefield to applaud and encourage "Infernal Affairs".

On the letter reading, the circle of friends is full of forwarded news about "Infernal Affairs", and even the eldest in the family knows that there is such a movie called "Infernal Affairs" that will be released during New Year's Day.

The news headlines forwarded by those who read the letter in the circle of friends are also gone!

"Li Zhifan's new film "Infernal Affairs" has such a big secret behind it!"

"Surprise! "Infernal Affairs" reveals the secrets of Xiangjiang for 40 years!"

"The Buddha said: Those who suffer from the infernal body will never die, and longevity is the great calamity in the infernal hell. Believe in Buddhism!"

"What does Li Zhifan's new film have to do with Buddhist scriptures?

"A trailer of "Infernal Affairs" actually caused the high-level of the Xiangjiang police to shake and vigorously self-examine?"

“……”

This time, the publicity and distribution team was completely manipulated by the Internet, and did not go through any offline publicity.

If anything, it may only be billboards that are suddenly placed overnight in major cities.

Bus stops, subway stations, supermarkets, building facades, taxi advertisements...... As long as you can place advertisements, you can see posters of Li Zhifan and "Infernal Affairs" everywhere.