Chapter 1653 - 817: Reversal

Chapter 1653: Chapter 817: Reversal

Song Chi will also send over his thoughts on the film when the time comes.

At the Berlin Film Festival, Zhou Lan will print both of their recommendations for the film in the promo booklet to boost its appeal.

Zhou Lan added, "When we know which celebrities and actors are attending the Berlin Film Festival, if you’re familiar with any of them, invite them to the screening. If they’re willing to praise the film a bit on their social media, that’s a huge recommendation for it."

For instance, if Elizabeth recommends the film on her social media, it’s highly likely that more buyers in the United States will learn about it and become interested.

That’s the power of celebrity influence.

Zhou Yun said, "I don’t even know who’s going to Berlin Film Festival."

Zhou Lan said, "We don’t know yet. Once we do, we’ll send invitations to everyone we know—and don’t know."

Zhou Yun said, "But actually Treasure isn’t that good a film. People might not like it."

"Whether they like it is another matter. First we need people to know the film exists," Zhou Lan said. "Besides, the director’s own ideas are very strong in it. It’s definitely not a bad film."

"I’m worried that if we invite so many people to watch it and most of them end up not liking it, it’ll backfire and hurt us instead," Zhou Yun said.

Zhou Lan said, "Don’t worry, Xiao Yun. Good or bad reactions are all normal. But for a film to sell, the first step is simply to make more people aware that it exists."

Zhou Yun thought it over and was persuaded by Zhou Lan.

She suddenly thought of the crew she was currently working with.

In this crew, with so many actors from different places, their attitude toward the film might be able to stand in for something.

Zhou Yun decided to organize a private screening within the crew and invite everyone to watch Treasure together.

After all, almost nobody had work in the evenings. They either went out to have some fun or stayed in the hotel.

Zhou Yun made this suggestion to Zhou Lan.

Zhou Lan was very supportive and said, "That could work."

Zhou Yun sent invitations to all the staff and rented a screening room in a cinema five kilometers away.

In this line of work, this kind of private screening is actually very common.

Especially before a film is officially released, there are many such screenings—inviting certain people to watch in advance, give comments or suggestions, and then the producers re-edit or even do reshoots based on that feedback.

Once everyone knew this was the film Zhou Yun planned to handle for overseas distribution, they all watched very attentively.

After the screening ended, Tim Lang said in delight, "This actress is simply unparalleled."

He was praising Ning Yao.

Zhou Yun nodded and introduced, "Her name is Ning Yao, she’s one of the best actresses in China."

Tim Lang said, "Her eyes act brilliantly, but the film itself is a bit dull. It wastes her outstanding performance."

Nakajima Hoto said, "The opening segment is way too long. I was almost nodding off."

"And I really don’t understand why Treasure leaves Shanghai at the end," Hugh Redman said, looking baffled. "She clearly had already solved all her problems."

Everyone chimed in one after another, not holding back at all.

Of course, that was also because Zhou Yun wasn’t the lead in this film; it didn’t have much to do with her.

Zhou Yun nodded.

"If I were telling this story, I’d definitely re-edit it. I’d just cut out the first thirty minutes entirely," Tim Lang said. "The director is probably trying to use that half hour to memorialize some past memory of his, but for the audience, that part is totally dispensable."

Lew Xi also said, "The film is too long. I almost fell asleep in the middle."

Zhou Yun wondered if they should ask the director to re-edit it.

Would the director agree?

"But setting aside the first thirty minutes that nearly put me to sleep, overall I quite like the film," Nakajima Hoto added. "I really like this woman Treasure—her strength, her endurance, and those crying scenes later on. They moved me deeply."

Lew Xi also said, "I empathized with her there too. Maybe everyone who fights alone in a big city has gone through moments like that. It really resonates."

Hugh Redman asked curiously, "Do audiences in China like this film?"