This is actually a commonly used tactic in the domestic film industry. Many famous directors and big productions use this method, leveraging the stable box office results from the third and fourth weeks to offset the hype from the first and second weeks. Of course, some companies exaggerate too much, like claiming dozens of millions while boasting over a hundred million, only to end as a laughing stock with fifty or sixty million in the end. There’s also a film that had such exaggerated hype that they were exposed and had to publicly apologize.

Now that there are no blockbusters, "Springtime Leaked" will be the strongest over the next few weeks. With many celebrities involved, it offers entertainment highlights and makes the media, who need to fill entertainment pages daily, usually willing to cooperate with the producers’ promotional hype. Naturally, because domestic box office statistics are not perfect, there’s no fear of confrontation; if there’s a disparity, they can just say the figures were estimates. Even that distribution company that apologized for a film just issued a statement with few people paying attention. Bragging doesn’t come with any tax! Taxes are based on statistics from the National Film Special Fund Office.

There are still some effective hard tactics, like the distribution company buying tickets for various times on the first day to give away or facilitating package deals for better attendance rates. When two films have attendance rates of forty percent and eighty percent, theaters will naturally schedule more screenings and better auditoriums for the one with higher rates. The more screenings and larger auditoriums, the better the film’s daily sales performance becomes, leading theaters to maintain a significant advantage in scheduling.

These tactics seem like spending money, but in a limited market, they can expand market share, squeeze out competitors, and create a snowball effect. With partnerships for discounted tickets through bank credit cards, companies, and school packages, the cost of spending is reduced while the impact is substantial. It might even steal box office from other films!

Tickets are sold, attendance rates appear, but there might not really be that many viewers! Some discount tickets are valid at any time for any session, counted under a certain blockbuster, but audiences may watch another film they prefer at a different time. Even for the best-performing blockbuster, a hundred percent attendance rate is impossible, so using discount tickets to watch other movies avoids issues. Many small and medium-sized films inadvertently ’donate’ box office to big films, especially in theater chains controlled by the production company.

This isn’t boasting box office; it’s akin to manipulating box office. Only those with millions in promotional funds can execute this, while smaller films with just millions in total budget can’t play this game.

...

After listening to the full report from Zeng Zixi, who learned the operations alongside Qiao Pan, Li Yan felt speechless. Turns out even in the film aspect of the arts circle, there are many underhanded tactics. Indeed, where there are people, there are challenges; where there are interests, there’s darkness.

After understanding the progress, Li Yan didn’t take up their time, letting them continue striving for more screenings for tomorrow. He contemplated Qiao Pan’s tactics. The last one, indeed, he had room to maneuver with! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Although the film’s investment is limited, Heavenly Film can’t spend lavishly on promotion or manipulate box office, but they can leverage Paradise Group’s resources!

Group bookings to distribute movie tickets to employees can be considered company welfare. Paradise Group’s scale, although not significantly impactful, can considerably boost attendance rates when focused on the first day, a single theater chain, and one city.

However, such action equates to using Paradise Group’s welfare fund for operations. From a certain perspective, supporting a sibling company’s product is a reasonable endorsement. Li Yan knows with Zhang Yurong and Hai Fu’s connections, it’s entirely feasible for him. Yet this carries some suspicion of leveraging power, and others might claim he relied on women’s support rather than developing the film company himself.

So after consideration, he dismissed this idea. Buying tickets out of his own pocket to invite all colleagues and Jie Rui’s security guards is feasible but too high-profile and flashy, leading to suspicions about the funding source – who privately would be so generous?

...

He wanted to invite Wen Qianyi and Hai Fu for dinner, but Wen Qianyi seemed to be avoiding him, possibly still unable to face what happened between them. Hai Fu had to go to her brother’s place for dinner and asked if he wanted to join.

Thinking about her gambling-addicted brother Shishan Yao, unsure if he successfully quit, Li Yan remembered he once pretended to be the disciple of Yun Country’s poker king Johnny Chan, making him appear a gambling expert in Shishan Yao’s eyes. Visiting him might raise suspicions, which could trigger his gambling urges. Li Yan couldn’t be bothered to fake pretenses and politely declined.

Aunt Liu had returned, with Yue Yao’s help, buying a lot of ingredients and preparing a luxurious dinner early.

Yurong went to the company in the morning but didn’t return until evening. Li Yan and Yue Yao waited for her to have dinner. Upon her return, she sat tiredly on the sofa, seemingly uninterested in eating. Feeling unusual, they accompanied her on the living room sofa.