April 4th, the day before the premiere.
Since the release of all films was spearheaded by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.
The websites, cinemas, and pricing for the eleven films were also designated by the General Administration.
Three video streaming platforms were chosen: Huihong Video, Hongcheng Video, and Tiancheng Video, with each movie priced at five yuan.
There were five cinema chains: Vanke Cinema Line, Hongtu Cinema Line, Beichenchang Cinema Line, Yunzong Cinema Line, and Shanqing Cinema Line.
These five were all major domestic cinema groups, with cinema lines spread across first and second-tier cities nationwide, and each movie ticket priced at twelve yuan.
The General Administration issued the designated cinema lines, websites, and pricing, simultaneously launching an online pre-sale mode.
At 8 PM, as the ticketing channels opened, a peculiar scene soon unfolded.
Throughout the four days of promotional war, Gao Fei had maintained top-tier heat, completely overshadowing the other ten film and television companies.
However, once the pre-sale of cinema tickets began, the other ten film and television companies suddenly surged forward.
Within less than half an hour, the movie tickets for April 5th from the ten companies were completely sold out.
In contrast, Feihe Pictures had only sold a little over a million tickets in the past half hour.
This stood in stark contrast to the online buzz of over a hundred million.
By the end of the night, Feihe Pictures' movie tickets had sold a total of 3.05 million.
After the pre-sale data was compiled and released, Feihe Pictures immediately became the laughingstock of the industry.
The online buzz of over a hundred million translating to only three million in pre-sale box office was undoubtedly the most severe Waterloo of the pre-sale event.
The film and television companies, previously suppressed by Gao Fei’s popularity, were ecstatic upon seeing the data.
Three million in pre-sale box office was a considerable relief for them.
Feihe Pictures’ pre-sale box office Waterloo was also widely reported by various media outlets overnight.
"Feihe Pictures, with over a hundred million in online buzz, only garnered three million in pre-sale box office. Gao Fei faces his first career Waterloo since his rise to fame."
"Two major internet celebrities invest tens of millions to make a movie, only to be brutally slapped by reality. Internet celebrities aiming for the film and television industry fail in their first breakout attempt."
"Gao Fei has millions of fans, Wang He has tens of millions, and the five daughters are here to support them, yet the result is a complete disaster. Internet celebrities, compared to movie stars, are ultimately limited to the internet and cannot translate to reality."
"Divergent promotional strategies still cannot compete with major capital-driven film companies; the ultimate battle still requires hard power and hard capital."
The reporting media were all from the film and television industry, and they did not mock Gao Fei but analyzed the gap between him and established stars in the real world.
The media also pointed out that Gao Fei's promotions were indeed eye-catching, and the online traffic was very high.
However, compared to the major film and television companies that invested heavily in online and offline promotions, Gao Fei still had a significant gap.
The media reports and real-world data made the fans and supporters feel disheartened, but everyone still tried to contribute by buying a movie ticket to cheer for Gao Fei and Wang He.
As for the haters who loved to spew negativity, there was no need to guess that they were already celebrating in the media comment sections, cursing Gao Fei and Wang He to go bankrupt.
...
At twelve noon, Kyoto Vanke Cinema.
Promotional posters for the eleven films adorned the interior and exterior of the cinema.
The promotional posters featured handsome stills of each male and female lead actor.
Fans who came to watch the movies were busy taking photos and checking in in front of the promotional posters.
The entire cinema was crowded and bustling with activity.
In a corner of the cinema, Gao Fei and Jin Qiqi, disguised in masks and hats, tightly concealing their faces, whispered like they were in a secret rendezvous, in an inconspicuous location.
"Boss, Vanke Film City has a total of twenty-five screening halls.
According to the General Administration's requirements, eleven films are assigned two screening halls each for every time slot. The remaining three halls are allocated to the films with the highest ticket sales."
"Which two halls are our movie assigned to?"
"The ones where Xiao Wang and the others are hosting a premiere screening are Hall 6, and the other is Hall 9!"
"Did you buy tickets for both halls?"
"Bought them!"
As Gao Fei took the ticket stub for Hall 9, Jin Qiqi asked with confusion, "Boss, why aren't you going with us to Hall 9?"
"To observe the public sentiment... no, to see the audience's live reactions!
You go with Old Wang and the others. If anyone asks about me, just say I'm at another cinema."
Gao Fei gave a brief explanation and quickly walked towards Hall 9 with his ticket stub.
In front of Hall 6.
As the movie was about to begin, the invited friends for the premiere, along with lucky fans and singers found through the comment sections, began to enter.
While Wang He's fans were taking commemorative photos with Mr. Wang outside, Gao Fei's fans were searching the crowd for Comrade Xiao Gao.
But after searching for a long time, the fans couldn't find Gao Fei.
It wasn't until manager Jin Qiqi appeared that the fans swarmed forward to ask where Gao Fei had gone.
Upon learning that Comrade Xiao Gao was not at Vanke Cinema, the invited fans were very disappointed.
However, Jin Qiqi reassured them, informing the fans that Gao Fei would definitely show up for photos with them and would never let them leave disappointed.
After arranging for the fans to enter, Wang He walked up mysteriously and asked, "What's up? Is Comrade Xiao Gao ashamed to show up because of the dismal box office?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? He's in Hall 9, saying he wants to see the reactions of ordinary audiences, and he'll be back after the movie ends."
"Alright, let's go in then!"
As Wang He and Jin Qiqi entered Hall 6, Director Liu and others from the crew followed.
Hall 9.
Gao Fei, wearing sunglasses and a mask, went unnoticed in the crowd.
After having his ticket checked with the audience, he also entered the screening hall and found his seat.
There were still ten minutes before the movie started, and the surrounding audience was discussing "Black and White Edge."
"I wonder how the movie starring Gao Fei will be. After all, it's his big-screen debut. I'm a little excited, but also a little scared that he might not film it well."
"Comrade Xiao Gao is indeed talented at singing and composing, and he's produced some incredibly exciting promotional videos. I wonder how the movie will be. If it's not good, I'll leave a bad review and unfollow!"
"No matter how well Comrade Xiao Gao films it, being able to support him is enough for me!"
The few girls next to Gao Fei were whispering. Hearing their conversation, he knew they were his fans.
But as soon as the girls finished speaking, a few discordant voices emerged next to him.
"Damn it, if I hadn't failed to get tickets for Lin Ke's 'Breakthrough,' and all the other movie tickets were sold out, I wouldn't bother watching Gao Fei's movie. What good movie can someone who likes to show off all day make?"
"Me too. If I hadn't managed to snag tickets, I wouldn't have come. From observing Gao Fei's facial features, this guy has no connection to the film and television industry, nor will he have any good acting skills to present to the audience."
"Anyway, if the movie doesn't meet my expectations, I'll definitely go online and curse him to death, and give it a bad review!"
The speakers were a few men, appearing to be in their mid-twenties.
Each of them had chosen to watch Feihe Pictures' "Black and White Edge" because they couldn't get tickets for other films.
Perhaps noticing Gao Fei looking at them, one of them politely asked with a smile, "Brother, what about you?"
"Me too!"
Comrade Xiao Gao replied perfunctorily and turned his head, no longer speaking.
The surrounding female fans glared fiercely at the men, then looked at Gao Fei, who was wearing a hat and mask, and subtly moved a little further away.
In the entire screening hall, discussions about Gao Fei's starring movie were mixed, with both anticipation and mockery.
In short, everyone had their own different opinions.
But the outcome was yet to be decided, and who would be the dark horse was still uncertain!
Clang!
The lights above the screening hall were turned off, and the internal chatter gradually subsided.
As a white light appeared in front, the film officially began.
The opening scene featured two cranes dancing. When the dancing cranes descended, it transformed into 'Produced by Feihe Pictures.'
The subtitles disappeared and the screen turned black, with a line of white text appearing.
"This film is adapted from the novel 'The Double Face Man,' Author: Nameless (Gao Fei), Screenplay: Xu Chenyang / Gao Fei."
The moment the subtitles appeared, the entire Hall 9 erupted.
"Holy crap! The movie is an adaptation of 'The Double Face Man'!"
"Holy crap! The author of the novel, Nameless, is Gao Fei, is this really true?"
"Holy crap! Starring Gao Fei, author Gao Fei, screenwriter Gao Fei, producer Gao Fei! This guy wrote the book and made his own movie!"
"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"
Surprised exclamations filled the hall, with cries of "Holy crap!" rising one after another.
After nearly half a minute of stunned silence, the screening hall quieted down.
Now that they knew Gao Fei was starring in a movie based on his own novel, "The Double Face Man," the audience members present stopped talking and began to watch intently.
After a minute of opening credits, the main feature finally began.
Whoosh!
The sound of waves crashing against the shore echoed in the cinema, and a blurry figure appeared on the screen.
Then, a soft, weeping female voice came through the speakers.
"Do you know... Zhang Haisheng..."
The woman's voice faded with the sound of the waves, and the blurry figure on the screen also disappeared.
Noisy sounds erupted, accompanied by sounds of smashing and breaking. A scene of fighting and brawling appeared in the picture.
"The police are here, run!"
"Brother Long, hurry and escape!"
"Nobody move, put your hands on your head and squat down!"
Gao Fei, dressed in a floral shirt and looking disheveled, was tackled to the ground by the police after just a few steps.
Everyone was handcuffed and put into a police car, with Gao Fei being taken away separately.
The scene shifted, and he appeared in a solitary interrogation room, facing a stern-faced middle-aged police chief in uniform.
"What are you doing? Fighting on the street, slashing two people and sending them to the hospital, leaving blood all over the place. Do you really not want to return to the police force and are prepared to go to jail?"
"Return to the police force?"
Gao Fei, sitting opposite, slammed the table, and with a smile instead of anger, looked at the police chief: "You said three years, and after three years, another three years. It's been almost ten years, boss!"
Police Chief Wu Chenghua, who was about to speak in anger, could only shake his head and sigh helplessly.
He walked to the side of the camera, his back to it, and said, "I'll send someone to take your statement later and try to get this settled with compensation so you can get out sooner.
Once this case is solved, I'll retire!"
With that, Wu Chenghua turned off the camera and pushed open the door to leave.
In the movie, Gao Fei, still handcuffed, watched him leave, then slumped back in his chair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes blankly staring at the ceiling.
Just as the audience wondered about this scene, which wasn't in the novel, a direct narrative began.
"My name is Xu Long, but this is not my real name. My real name is Zhang Haisheng, a police academy student yet to graduate from the XX cohort..."