All-rounder Artist

Chapter 1401: Chapter 1161: The Reverse Operation of Zhong Continent

“””

The next day.

Lin Yuan arrived at the company.

Ol’ Zhou appeared in Lin Yuan’s office again, bringing up yesterday’s news and unleashing a series of complaints with great dissatisfaction:

“That guy sure knows how to stir things up.”

“Using online buzz for hype.”

“Playing the regional rivalry card to get more box office from the Middle State audience, but worried people would call him out for it, so sneakily slipping his true intentions through a joking tone—stuff like, ‘I really admire your music.’ Please, it’s clearly a movie competition here.”

“Passive-aggressive much.”

“That’s what passes for a top-tier director?”

“Still, even though he tried to take a jab at us, in a way he did help promote us. The problem is, his effort wasn’t enough; he’s benefiting more than we are. After all, the new continents joining the mix later don’t know much about your movies—especially over in Wei Continent, where many people haven’t even seen a single one of your films.”

Lin Yuan nodded.

He wasn’t particularly upset about the Middle State director’s deliberate hype, though he didn’t care for such tactics either.

Ol’ Zhou’s last remarks, however, were spot-on.

The influence of Xian Yu’s films grows weaker as you move from Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei to the Middle State.

Last year, Wei Continent joined the merger.

Lin Yuan didn’t even release a single film then, keeping himself busy with other matters. Let alone this year, when the Middle State had only begun to join.

Under such circumstances, promotion became all the more critical.

Ol’ Zhou frowned and said, “Let’s increase the promotional budget. First, buy more of this month’s movie trailer ad slots, and focus offline promotion in Zhao, Wei, and the Middle State.”

Lin Yuan’s films had weaker influence in these three continents.

Now that the Blue Star merger united all continents, each continent carried equal weight as a box office source.

As for movie trailer ads, the process involved packaging a film’s preview with currently screening movies and airing them as ads before the main feature—a concept familiar to regular cinema-goers.

Such ads were expensive.

Due to their precise targeting.

But Lin Yuan simply smiled and said, “No need to increase the budget. I’ll handle the promotions this time.”

“You’ll…”

Ol’ Zhou froze for a moment, then his expression lit up with sheer delight:

“You’re going to launch a personal promotional campaign!?”

Prior to participating in *The Masked Singer,* Xian Yu never showed himself publicly.

Even after *The Masked Singer,* Xian Yu’s appearances remained few and far between.

Why else would just the sight of Xian Yu during a livestream spark such massive reactions across continents?

It was all because he kept such a low profile.

Before a new film release.

Other screenwriters and directors would drag their crews around tirelessly, hopping from place to place to drum up interest.

As for Xian Yu—despite already producing several movies—not once had he personally joined any of his film’s promotional tours.

The most he’d do was throw out an announcement online.

So perfunctory it was as though the film wasn’t even his.

This time, Xian Yu actually intended to personally step forward for promotion!

Clearly, Xian Yu must have placed high importance on this movie *Kung Fu.*

“Is there a problem?”

“No problem, no problem. You taking charge of the promotion yourself beats any budget increase.”

Ol’ Zhou’s grin couldn’t be any wider.

Xian Yu taking the lead was the ultimate promotional expense!

None of the previous films had enjoyed such treatment!

Lin Yuan didn’t think his decision to promote the film himself was that remarkable.

He used to avoid publicity due to a fear of cameras.

Now fully adjusted to being in front of the lens, these matters no longer fazed him.

Besides, this was Blue Star’s first big merger movie, aiming for a global audience.

Lin Yuan stepping forward was also about discovering how *Kung Fu,* a film imbued with the appeal of Eastern aesthetics and martial arts charm, would resonate in this world dominated by Eastern sensibility.

“Make the arrangements, then.”

“I’ll organize a promotional event and invite the Yu Dynasty to be special guests. We’ll host it before the movie premieres!”

“Got it.”

Lin Yuan added, “Apart from promotional tours, I have another plan.”

“Another plan?”

“Do you watch cartoons?”

“I don’t…”

“You should take a look if you’ve got time. I mean the Second Children’s Channel.”

The Second Children’s Channel?

That channel only airs Shadow’s animated shows, apparently.

Ol’ Zhou knew Shadow and Xian Yu shared a close rapport.

But what connection could there possibly be between Shadow and *Kung Fu?*

…

Confused or not, Ol’ Zhou really did start watching the Second Children’s Channel cartoons in the following days.

Watching at work.

Watching even after hours.

The members of the film department laughed when they caught wind of this, joking that Ol’ Zhou “had a childlike heart.”

Meanwhile.

The discussions around Middle State grew increasingly heated.

Maybe Liu Xing had paved the way by setting a good example, showing other directors with August releases the benefits of taking this path;

Or maybe Middle State screenwriters and directors really had a bone to pick with Xian Yu?

Either way.

A number of Middle State directors and screenwriters began following Liu Xing’s lead, spinning their own “helping the Middle State music scene get revenge” narratives. Online buzz became a chaotic mix of hilarity and exasperation among netizens:

“Fish Papa is being wronged hard!”

“This is basically the Middle State targeting him.”

“They can’t best him in music, so they’re coming for his movies now?”

“Though they’re joking around, I feel like this is crossing a line.”

“Middle State folks’ excessive pride leads to their strong sense of honor; they simply can’t accept defeat in any field—even if it’s just losing out to Xian Yu individually. Their gold medal tally in the Blue Songlympics still surpasses others’, yet their directors and screenwriters gang up on Xian Yu.”

“This feels like *Ambush from Ten Sides,* right here.”

“That said, the more they do this, the more curious I am about *Kung Fu.* Is this movie martial arts-themed?”

“Kung Fu movies, huh? I’m actually into that genre.”

“I wasn’t before—I thought it was outdated. But then I watched Chu Kuang’s *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* trilogy, and my interest was rekindled.”

“Of all those Middle State directors and screenwriters hyping their films, I can’t recall a single title. Meanwhile, *Kung Fu* is burned into my brain. Fish Papa may look like the underdog here, but he’s actually crushing it!”

“Haha, that seems to be the case!”

“This reverse publicity is genius. Those Middle State filmmakers inadvertently pushed Fish Papa’s new movie into everyone’s consciousness.”

“On that note.”

“Have any of you considered what happens if Fish Papa actually wins this?”

“Pfft!”

“If he wins, it’ll be a total jackpot!”

“No one knows the Literature and Art Association’s film ranking criteria, but to emerge victorious under attack by so many Middle State directors—Fish Papa’s ranking would skyrocket for sure!”

“It’s easy to say.”

“But it’s far from simple.”

“The movie ranking list has just come out; though many big names haven’t stepped up yet, initial promotional activity indicates fierce competition in August.”

Continents buzzed wildly.

By stumbling into this chaotic clash stirred up by Middle State directors and screenwriters, *Kung Fu* ended up receiving a significant indirect promotional boost!

Ol’ Zhou couldn’t stop laughing.

No longer annoyed as before.

Ol’ Zhou even entertained the thought of expressing his gratitude to the Middle State filmmakers for their unintentional selflessness, saving Starlight some advertising costs.

For now, he shelved the matter.

The cartoons started playing.

Days of Lin Yuan urging Ol’ Zhou to watch had pushed him to the verge of obsession, yet he still couldn’t see any connection between these cartoons and *Kung Fu.*

Nevertheless:

The cartoons were pretty entertaining. Ol’ Zhou had been watching them nonstop for days, almost as though he’d truly rediscovered a childlike spirit within himself.

That evening.

Ol’ Zhou was once again glued to the Second Children’s Channel.

The previous night, a show called *The Little Tiger Returns* had just wrapped up.

He wondered about the next show in the lineup?

Eager curiosity mixed with inexplicable anticipation.

Soon.

The next show began airing.

Wait, what?

Sitting in front of the TV, Ol’ Zhou’s eyes widened dramatically!

The show following *The Little Tiger Returns* turned out to be…

Something called *He Sheng’s Adventures!?*

What in the world? *He Sheng’s Adventures.*

He Sheng was the male lead in *Kung Fu!*

Why’s his name showing up in an animated series?

Could this be why Lin Yuan had told him to pay attention to the Second Children’s Channel cartoons?

But…

It was only a name—like some coincidental overlap. Probably wouldn’t really drum up promotions for *Kung Fu,* right?

Meanwhile, back at home.

Lin Yuan couldn’t help curling into a peculiar smile.

Sorry about this, Jackie Chan, borrowing your animated show for a bit.

“””

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