Chapter 980: Chapter 980: Sheng Tang’s Intuition
Liu Taofang told Sheng Tang about the situation at Huatai Film and Television.
"... I had my uncle call for a board meeting," Liu Taofang said. "We’ve invested thirty million in the promotion of this movie. The production costs combined have already been quite a burn.
If there’s a delay, and a big crisis arises, what then? Who will bear the loss? The board meeting is the day after tomorrow; we’ll see then."
"Do you think it can still be released on schedule?" Sheng Tang asked.
Liu Taofang was resolute: "I must release it on schedule! I’ve put so much effort into this film, we’ve opened with eight thousand cinemas for the Spring Festival slot. If we delay now, future films of mine will be rejected by theaters!"
The president of Huatai Film and Television, Tang Xun, his casual words don’t affect him much.
But the producer, director, and even the actors would be affected.
The producer is affected the most.
If there’s a delay, Liu Taofang’s reputation with the cinemas will be tarnished; who would dare screen his movies in the future?
Sheng Tang nodded.
From Liu Taofang’s perspective, it must be released.
Sheng Tang asked again: "Brother Liu, can I see the final cut? If it’s really bad, we can think of solutions overnight, call in Fei Muzhi, and work overtime to try and make improvements."
Liu Taofang now regretted it too.
He shouldn’t have kicked the director out.
From the beginning, the final cut rights should have been given to Fei Muzhi, after all, it’s his hard work.
"Okay, I’ll take you to see it," Liu Taofang said. "Sheng Tang, you have the best vision, you must tell me the truth."
Sheng Tang nodded.
Liu Taofang complained again: "This movie, I originally planned to release it in the summer next year. But then, Tang Xun said your ’Tomb Raiders’ might flop, affecting it, so he urged an early release.
From that moment, I should’ve realized he had ill intentions. He wants to kick me out of Huatai, so my uncle would have to rely on him.
With the support of major shareholders, he dominates the company. I trusted him too much, thinking he was my old classmate and wouldn’t harm me."
Sheng Tang didn’t expect, despite Liu Taofang’s astuteness, he would be caught up in internal company strife.
She gently patted Liu Taofang on the shoulder.
"Brother Liu, it’s okay, the board meeting hasn’t happened, Tang Xun can’t just decide everything," Sheng Tang said. "The movie will surely be released on schedule."
Liu Taofang took Sheng Tang to the small screening room of Huatai Film and Television.
Sheng Tang and he saw the final cut.
The movie’s post-production and effects were already completed.
As the movie played, Sheng Tang was completely immersed in it.
She saw beautiful imagery, vivid stories, and characters.
The interaction between Bai Suzhen and Jiuyan was both intense and challenging, stirring excitement but not being cliché.
The two who seemed like they’d fall in love became opponents, a particularly thrilling storyline, giving Sheng Tang immense satisfaction.
Apart from the visuals, the film’s special effects were exquisite, evidently made with a big budget.
The CG character, the red fox Dou Dou, was vivid and lifelike, both lively and charmingly innocent. In the end, when she was injured while saving Bai Suzhen, her teary scene was moving.
Sheng Tang finished watching the movie and didn’t speak for a long time.
Liu Taofang looked at her nervously.
"How is it?" He anxiously watched Sheng Tang’s expression.
Sheng Tang’s expression was solemn: "Brother Liu, there’s nothing wrong with this movie, it’s Tang Xun’s tastes that are outdated. He neither understands the current young audience’s demand for characters nor the impact of effects on the box office, and he doesn’t get the selling points of CG characters.
The movie is fine, the problem is with Tang Xun. You have to fight for a Spring Festival release. Do not delay, a delay will ruin the reputation further."
