novellhall Chapter 128: Doing a promotional tour with Jackie Chan! [4000]
Chapter 128: Doing a promotional tour with Jackie Chan! [4000]
Chapter 128: Doing a promotional tour with Jackie Chan! [4000]
These ideas are integrated with his existing experience.
Chen Xun felt that his mind was now filled with inspiration and understanding of Jackie Chan-style performance. Although it was still in its early stages, it had already opened a completely new door for him.
He looked at Jackie Chan, his admiration for him now even deeper.
He can better appreciate the amazing creativity and effort behind each successful shot.
"What's wrong, Chen Xun? Why are you spacing out?"
Jackie Chan noticed his momentary lapse in concentration and asked with a smile.
Chen Xun snapped out of his daze, suppressed his excitement, and smiled sincerely, "It's nothing, brother. I just suddenly realized that listening to you talk about these things is more useful and beneficial than attending any film academy."
"Haha, as long as it's useful! I'm only happy to share these experiences if people are willing to listen!"
Jackie Chan laughed heartily: "That's all for today. As for the house, I'll have my assistant contact your agent tomorrow to get the process started. As for the roadshow arrangements for 'Chinese Zodiac,' I'll send them to you as soon as possible."
"Chinese Zodiac" had a lukewarm box office performance on its opening day in North America.
There are very few screenings.
Only 102 cinemas chose to screen the film.
They are mainly concentrated in major cities with large Chinese populations, such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Toronto, as well as in a few art-house cinemas and large chain cinemas that specialize in showing foreign language films.
The screening times are mostly weekday afternoon or late-night shows, while the prime time slots on weekends are basically occupied by Hollywood blockbusters released at the same time.
The American public has limited interest in foreign films, especially those not in English.
Despite Jackie Chan having millions of fans in North America, the US film market has limited imports of foreign films.
Audiences prefer local or English-language films.
This situation was within Jackie Chan's expectations.
But when he saw the specific data, he couldn't help but sigh.
"There are fewer theaters showing it than when I made 'Rumble in the Bronx' twenty years ago."
He said to Chen Xun on the other end of the phone, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Times have changed, Chen Xun. Hollywood is more xenophobic now than it was back then!"
Chen Xun looked at a briefing that Robert had prepared for him.
The box office performance of "Chinese Zodiac" during its opening weekend was actually quite good, mainly concentrated in cinemas near Chinese communities, where the occupancy rate was very high.
However, the base is too small, and the total box office figures are barely noticeable when placed in the context of the North American box office.
Aside from a few major newspapers briefly mentioning the release of Jackie Chan's latest adventure film in their culture sections, mainstream media outlets offered virtually no coverage.
Discussions on social media were also limited to the Chinese community and Jackie Chan's longtime fan base.
"It's certain that you won't adapt to the new environment!"
Chen Xun spoke to Jackie Chan on the other end of the phone: "Brother, didn't we expect this to happen? The key now is how to gradually turn these 102 companies into 202, then 302."
"So it's up to you now, young man!"
Jackie Chan's voice regained some energy: "My old face only has some nostalgia left here. Your current popularity is a genuinely fresh topic. Our collaboration should be able to create some buzz."
The first stop of Chen Xun and Jackie Chan's joint promotional tour was an AMC theater in West Los Angeles.
This cinema was quite accommodating, scheduling the screenings during prime time.
Outside the cinema, a huge joint notice was urgently posted next to the originally solitary "Chinese Zodiac" poster.
Above are stills of Jackie Chan leaping over an ancient castle and Chen Xun holding a lamp ring in "Green Lantern". In the middle is a line of eye-catching text: "Legend and Future: Jackie Chan & Chen Xun Special Scene".
Releasing the news in advance had an immediate effect.
Before 3 p.m., two lines had already formed outside the cinema.
One group was clearly Jackie Chan's longtime fans, mostly older, some even wearing old T-shirts with "Rush Hour" printed on them.
恤。
The other column was much younger, with many young people holding Green Lantern posters or photos of Chen Xun from the movie on their phones, chattering excitedly and looking around.
Backstage, Jackie Chan peeked out through the gap in the curtain and patted Chen Xun on the shoulder: "See? Your core supporters have arrived. They're young and passionate, which is exactly what we need."
Chen Xun smiled and straightened his suit.
He didn't wear a formal suit today, but instead opted for a more casual dark jacket and trousers, which made him appear more approachable.
The stability brought by all attributes being at level 4 made him feel very calm.
The skill fragments about "action comedy rhythm" that he had previously absorbed from Jackie Chan gave him an almost instinctive understanding and respect when facing this legend.
The moment the two appeared, screams of nostalgia and novelty nearly shook the theater lobby.
The flashbulbs went off everywhere.
Many young viewers held up Green Lantern merchandise or signs with Chen Xun's name on them, while some held up old Jackie Chan movie posters.
This scene is incredibly impactful!
On one side are the Chinese predecessors who have struggled in Hollywood for decades, gaining international fame despite their injuries.
On one side are emerging Chinese stars who are trying to break down old barriers with new rules.
Media cameras frantically captured this starkly contrasting scene of the two people in the same frame.
After a brief opening by the host, the microphone was handed to Jackie Chan.
He still spoke his signature English with a slight Hong Kong accent.
He talked about interesting anecdotes from the filming and his dedication to the theme of recovering national treasures.
And how were those seemingly impossible stunts "achieved bit by bit through sheer risking their lives"?
His longtime fans were moved by what they heard, while the younger audience found it novel.
It was Chen Xun's turn.
Instead of praising the film's greatness, he picked up the microphone, smiled, and said in fluent American English, "When I was a kid, a relative of mine ran a video arcade. That's where I first saw Jackie Chan's movies!"
"The footage was blurry and the sound was noisy, but I remember two things: First, how did this guy jump from such a height and still be unharmed? Second, how could he make funny faces and make the audience laugh after being beaten so badly?"
A knowing laugh rippled through the audience.
Many people recalled watching Jackie Chan movies when they were young.
This comment is a big plus!
"Later, after I became an actor, especially after filming movies like 'Green Lantern' with lots of action scenes, I truly understood how much precise design and repeated practice were required behind those seemingly easy and fun shots."
He turned to Jackie Chan, his attitude sincere: "When Brother Jackie Chan invited me to do a promotional tour for 'Chinese Zodiac,' I didn't hesitate!"
"Because he is Jackie Chan, a legend, a filmmaker who still uses the most authentic methods to create joy and excitement for audiences. He deserves the opportunity to go to the cinema, no matter where we come from!"
These words both flattered Jackie Chan and cleverly elevated support for Jackie Chan to the level of supporting anyone who takes filmmaking seriously.
The situation changed instantly.
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
During the Q&A session, the questions mainly focused on Chen Xun.
"Mr. Chen Xun, you're currently in the promotional period for 'Green Lantern,' why are you willing to spend your time participating in the North American roadshow for a Chinese-language film?"
"Time spent on worthwhile things is not a waste!"
Chen Xun answered decisively: "Good movies deserve to be seen, regardless of which country's label they bear!"
Do you think "Chinese Zodiac" can attract non-Chinese audiences who know you because of "Green Lantern"?
'
"I believe stories and emotions are universal!"
"Green Lantern tells the story of an ordinary person becoming a hero, while Chinese Zodiac tells the story of an ordinary person taking risks to protect cultural heritage. Both films are about courage, responsibility, and perseverance."
"Of course, Jackie Chan's action scenes in the movie are a universal language, guaranteed to be a thrilling experience!"
The answer was appropriate, yet subtly promoted.
Jackie Chan chimed in at the opportune moment, adding his own humorous touches, and even pulled Chen Xun aside to demonstrate two simple, comedic fighting moves from the movie.
Chen Xun reacted quickly and cooperated perfectly, drawing continuous laughter and applause from the audience.
Fans of Green Lantern were intrigued and their affection for Jackie Chan increased upon seeing Chen Xun's high regard for the character.
Longtime fans felt proud to see Jackie Chan still full of energy and interacting harmoniously with rising stars.
The effects of this joint appearance were immediate.
Before the event had even completely ended, the hashtag #JackieChanChenXun# appeared on Twitter's trending topics.
The short and funny instructional video clip of the two interacting was widely shared.
Many young Green Lantern fans who had no prior knowledge of the "Chinese Zodiac" franchise began actively searching for it: "Someone Chen Xun respects so much, the movie must have something special!"
"I grew up watching Jackie Chan movies, I never expected to see him in the same frame as Chen Xun, I have to support him!"
"The action scenes in the trailer look really hardcore; I'm going to ask my friends to check it out this weekend!"
"Let's just consider this support for the people Chen Xun supports!"
The roadshows in New York and Toronto were increasingly impressive.
Every time they appear on the same stage, it becomes a topic of conversation.
Chen Xun leveraged his current popularity to precisely direct traffic to "Chinese Zodiac".
At the scene, someone even drew all the roles Jackie Chan has played on a giant banner, attracting fans to stop and watch.
Jackie Chan's eyes were red.
Chen Xun was particularly moved.
If someone were to draw all the characters he played years from now, that would truly show that he has won the hearts of his fans.
He's only become popular now because of the Green Lantern IP, and he's still a long way from that point!
After the first weekend, the independent company responsible for the distribution received a detailed report.
In the three cities where Chen Xun participated in the roadshow, the average weekend attendance rate for "CZ12" increased by 35%-50% compared to the opening weekend!
The proportion of tickets purchased by non-Chinese audiences has risen from almost negligible to nearly 15%.
Social media discussion levels, online search index curves, and roadshow schedules highly overlapped.
With increased joint exposure, some theater managers who initially had little interest in "Chinese Zodiac" began to reassess their performance.
They initially lacked confidence in the film, hence the limited number of screenings.
While they believe in Jackie Chan's influence, they have their own evaluation system for films.
These days, there are too many movies that are critically acclaimed but not commercially successful!
Data shows that in the cities where Chen Xun participated in the roadshow, the film's weekend attendance rate increased significantly, and there were even cases of non-Chinese viewers buying tickets to watch the film.
A week later, the independent publishing company responsible for the North American distribution of "The Zodiac" brought good news.
Based on strong box office performance per theater in the first week and a significant increase in attention recently, they have successfully persuaded some theater chains to expand the number of theaters showing the film to nearly 200 in the second week!
The newly added cinemas are no longer limited to Chinese communities, but are beginning to appear in some mainstream community cinemas.
The scheduling of screenings has also improved significantly, with weekend screenings now frequently appearing near prime time.
"It's working, Chen Xun!"
Jackie Chan's voice boomed on the phone: "Those people in the theaters are the most pragmatic. As long as they see money to be made and seats available, they don't care where the movie was filmed!"
"Let's work even harder next week and aim for 300 stores!"
Thanks to Chen Xun's participation in the roadshow, the number of screenings for "Chinese Zodiac" has increased.
The film "Chinese Zodiac" is of quite good quality and its box office soared in other overseas regions, but it was met with a cold reception in the United States and had a bad start!
Chen Xun's appearance was like a shot in the arm for the box office, directly reversing the situation.
Box office revenue began to show an upward trend.
Meanwhile, Chen Xun's film "Green Lantern" also saw its decline reversed and begin to rise against the trend just before it was about to leave theaters, thanks to his promotional tour with Jackie Chan!
The editor of a Hollywood box office data website had just arrived at work, holding a cup of coffee and staring at the numbers updating in the backend.
puff~
Upon seeing the numbers on the screen, he uncontrollably sprayed his coffee all over the table.
He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating from drinking too much coffee.
"Green Lantern: The Rise of the Blue Dragon is in its seventh week of release, with estimated North American weekend box office revenue up 3% from last week?"
He refreshed the page, but the number remained unchanged.
Then I brought up the historical graph.
A typical box office curve for a blockbuster should be a peak in the opening week, followed by a continuous decline in the following weeks, with occasional small rebounds due to holidays or special events, but the overall trend is downward.
However, after a disastrous first week and a difficult second week, the trajectory of "Green Lantern" actually leveled off from the third week onwards.
Even in the sixth week, there was a slight surge due to the "Tonight Show" effect.
It's now in its seventh week, and it's been a month and a half since it was released.
With most cinemas drastically reducing their screenings, the projected data actually shows that prices will rise further?
"This doesn't make sense!"
The editor muttered to himself as he clicked on the detailed data.
As a seasoned website editor, he had never encountered this situation before.
He found that the increase mainly came from several major cities, especially Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, where a few cinemas even resumed IMAX screenings of "Green Lantern".
Comments and social media monitoring show that many newly purchased ticket holders mentioned "Jackie" in their comments.
"Chan" and "Twelve Zodiac Animals".
An urgent analysis report was delivered to Silverman's desk.
The influence of "Chinese Zodiac" and Jackie Chan, especially through the joint promotional tour with Chen Xun, unexpectedly injected new attention into "Green Lantern," which had entered its long tail period.
This attention directly translated into box office revenue, leading to a rare phenomenon of post-release growth for the film.
Are the two films mutually supporting each other?
Silverman looked at the report, his expression quite interesting.
"Chen Xun became a conduit connecting two different audience pools."
He immediately picked up the phone and called Rob: "Rob! How many more shows are left in your promotional tour with Jackie Chan? Can you add more? Warner Bros. can coordinate resources and provide some venues and promotional support!"
Capitalists always have the keenest sense of smell.