Chapter 244: The Press Conference That Shocked the Industry
In early March, iQiyi, Youku and Tencent Video held a press conference and officially announced that it would exclusively invest 3 million US dollars to shoot the D version of "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons D".

The reporters’ first reaction was confusion. They looked at the people around them, not knowing what “3D” was!
After all, I had never heard of this concept before.

Then I was shocked by the huge investment amount of 300 million US dollars, which was simply unimaginable.

Speaking of the Chinese entertainment industry at this moment, there are also blockbuster films produced by other companies.

For example, "Investiture of the Gods", led by Huayi and directed by Liu Weiqiang, has a total investment of 100 million US dollars.

"Red Cliff", which has completed post-production and is ready to be released in the summer, is also said to have a total investment of over 100 million US dollars.

So at this point in time, an investment amount of 100 million US dollars is no longer a news selling point.

Jiang Heng suddenly raised the production cost of mainland film investment to 300 million US dollars, and it was an exclusive investment. This was so surprising that it is no exaggeration to say that it shocked the entire Chinese entertainment industry.

Reporters speculated that the investment amount was too large and the so-called "3D" technology was not mature enough, which was why China Film Group did not participate this time.

At the same time, I am shocked by the powerful strength of the "iQIYI, Youku and Tencent Video" film industry. Three hundred million US dollars, they just took it. How much money did they make?

"Hello, Director Jiang. I'm a reporter from Xinlang Entertainment. The investment amount for this new film is so high that it has once again broken the total investment record for Chinese-language films. I'd like to ask if this 3D technology is very expensive? And what will its effect be like?"

“Of course, the reason why we spent so much money and used 3D stereoscopic film technology to shoot Havoc in Heaven is mainly to present the most exciting chapter of Journey to the West with the most perfect effect.

3D movies are not a new technology. They have been around since the 20s...!"

Jiang Heng first popularized the history of 3D movies to the journalists, and they realized that it was not a new technology. Even China had produced 3D movies in the s, such as "The Magician's Adventures", "Happy Smiles", "Happy Zoo", "Pretty Girl A Ping", and "The Thirteenth Sister of the Chivalrous Woman".

It's just that it hasn't appeared in recent decades and has gradually been forgotten.

What many people don’t know is that the first large-scale 3D movie released in China was not the well-known "Avatar", but "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 08.

Due to its outstanding visual effects, high ticket price of 100 yuan and unprecedented visual impact, the film was screened on a limited number of 80 3D screens for 27 weeks, with a box office of 6700 million yuan, an average of 80 yuan per screen.

"Red Cliff" (Part 3.2), which grossed 3600 million yuan, was screened on 8 screens, with a box office of more than yuan per screen.

Comparing the two movies, the average screen box office number of the 3D movie is 10 times that of ordinary movies. The box office revenue of one movie recovers the investment in the projection equipment, which can be called an investment miracle.

It was the success of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" that sparked a craze for 3D movies, prompting many domestic cinema chains to expand and update their projection equipment and vigorously promote 3D movies.

08年时国内的3D银幕数量还只有86块，到暑期《冰河世纪3》上映之时，3D银幕数量就已迅速发展到350块。

When "Avatar" was released, the number of 3D screens in China had exceeded 600, making it the world's second largest 3D movie market after the United States.

The reason why it was able to create a box office miracle of 13.4 billion is also inseparable from the theater renovation and upgrading brought about by the 3D movie craze triggered by "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Ice Age 3".

However, Jiang Heng's "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" had to be released earlier, so he had to find a way to let theater owners know that 3D movies are more profitable and upgrade their equipment, so he introduced the benefits of 3D movies at the new film launch conference.

I believe that after large-scale media coverage, some cinema owners will be willing to upgrade and renovate.

After the press conference, the media reports were just as Jiang Heng expected, with "3D movies" as the core of the articles and the future development of the Chinese-language film market. Some people who praised Jiang Heng said that this move would lead to the continued expansion of the Chinese film market, and believed that it would not be long before China would become the world's second largest film market after North America.

There are also some bearish ones who doubt the effect of the film after it is completed, saying that Jiang Heng's move is too risky. If the word of mouth and box office fail, the amazing results achieved over the years will be wasted. They suggest that Jiang Heng act with caution.

In Hong Kong, Wu Yusen, who has completed the post-production of "Red Cliff", is taking a rare break in the studio, handling some chores and planning the film's release.

Producer Zhang Jiazhen came over with some newspapers and laughed, "Come and see, that kid is up to something again!"

Wu Yusen looked up, "What's the matter that makes you so happy?"

"look by youself!"

After Zhang Jiazhen finished speaking, he placed the Ming Pao in front of Wu Yusen, on which was written "Jiang Heng is obsessed with new technology and has invested 3 million to make a D version of 'Journey to the West'."

Looking further into the article, it first reports on the new film launch, then reviews the development of 3D technology in world film history, and finally discusses the huge risks of this move.

To sum up, 3D technology can only be regarded as magic, not art at all.

Over the years, no major director has used this technology to make movies.

Perhaps due to time constraints, this article is not written in a rigorous manner.

Before the movie "Avatar", most great directors looked down on 3D technology, but Hitchcock didn't think so. He shot a 1954D version of "Dial M for Murder" in 3, which became one of the few excellent 3D films at that time.

But Wu Yusen certainly didn't notice these. He glanced at the newspaper and said disdainfully, "Director Jiang, probably because the global box office of Pacific Rim 2 has inflated, he is eyeing the throne of the world's box office champion in film history. He knows that ordinary movies can never beat Titanic, so he found another way with 3D technology!"

Zhang Jiazhen laughed, "You see it clearly. He is really brave enough to invest 300 million US dollars. It seems that he has made a lot of money! I just don't know how much he can lose this time!"

To be honest, there are few directors and producers in the industry who are not envious of the astonishing box office of Pacific Rim 2.

After all, “there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts”, and the director profession is also considered to be on the “literary” side, and neither of them is convinced of each other.

Some people, even if their works are criticized as bad movies and both the box office and reputation are bad, they still insist that their works are good, but you just don't understand them.

Therefore, no matter how great Jiang Heng's achievements are, there will always be people who are not convinced, not to mention a famous director like Wu Yusen.

He laughed and said, "How much he earns or loses is his business. It has nothing to do with us. Just don't affect Red Cliff!"

Zhang Jiazhen said: "The problem is that his "Zhu Xian" is scheduled for the summer, competing with "Red Cliff"!"

Wu Yusen also felt a headache after hearing this.

The so-called strategic contempt for the enemy, tactical attention to the enemy.

Even Hollywood directors dare not underestimate Jiang Heng’s special effects blockbusters.

Not to mention that this movie has an original novel, and there is a bunch of "original party" cheering online!
(End of this chapter)