He spoke while pointing his finger at the smaller reception room beside the main reception room.
The smaller reception room seed to be a place for everyday private etings. It was partitioned decoratively in the middle, so the full view wasn’t visible—it appeared smaller than this side.
There were so sofas placed closer together, and several people were sitting there chatting.
Director Lin?
Wu Mu’s thoughts turned, and he imdiately knew it was Lin Qingyue’s father, Lin Xueming.
Although Lin Qingyue would return tonight, she still had matters with the crew to handle, so she wouldn’t be here.
Moreover, when he chatted with Lin Qingyue in the morning, he ntioned attending this party, and if Lin Qingyue were coming, she wouldn’t fail to inform him.
"I’ll go say hello." He nodded and said.
With Lin Xueming present, he definitely needed to go and greet him.
"The bosses of Light Shadow dia and Yahua Film and Television, along with Director Tang and Director Xie, are also present," Yang Rongfa whispered again.
Light Shadow dia and Yahua Film and Television?
Even if Wu Mu didn’t usually engage with the industry, he knew about these two companies. If Yang Rongfa’s company belonged to the mid-tier, then these two were genuinely top-tier within the circle.
Not only were they listed companies, but they also consistently produced major films every year and managed artists, with nurous celebrities under their wings.
These two companies needed no further explanation.
As for Director Tang and Director Xie?
For Yang Rongfa to specifically ntion them, they must not be simple characters.
Wu Mu thought for a mont and imdiately knew who they were.
Tang Wei and Xie Chunfang.
Directors of the sa level as Lin Xueming.
All were veterans in the industry, having achieved success long ago, possessing both status and reputation.
The big shots were all there.
He and Yang Rongfa walked towards the smaller reception room.
As they got closer, they could clearly see the situation in the smaller reception room.
Lin Xueming was indeed there, sitting on a sofa towards the center, holding a wine glass and seemingly speaking.
Around him sat several people, with two possessing an unmistakable boss deanor, and nearby stood several middle-aged n who were artists’ representatives.
Director Tang Wei was wearing a cotton cloth cap, clearly trying to cover sothing, but it couldn’t hide his balding head. Director Xie Chunfang, whose na contains a feminine word "Fang," ironically towered over everyone present with his tall and robust figure.
And then...
Wu Mu paused his steps.
There was a woman, probably in her forties, dressed in a tailored black suit, wearing a pearl necklace, speaking softly and laughing with soone beside her. She appeared elegant and noble.
Was Lin Qingyue’s mother here too?
This was the first ti Wu Mu saw Lin Qingyue’s mother in person. When he visited Lin Qingyue’s ho previously, he never happened to et her.
However, Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, was a veteran actress from the previous generation. He had seen her photos and thus recognized her.
After pausing, Wu Mu continued to walk forward.
Then, after just a couple of steps, he encountered another familiar face.
At the edge of the smaller reception room stood a man in his thirties, holding a plate and standing upright, seemingly attentively listening to Lin Xueming talk.
It was Geng Wei.
The original boss of Xiao Yi Company, the one who first wanted to sign him, then beca furious when rejected and tried to blacklist him.
But Wu Mu didn’t care much about him, so he continued walking forward without stopping.
Approaching closer, he could hear Lin Xueming’s voice, "This year’s film market can be described as appalling. The official data from the National Film Bureau hasn’t been released, but I’ve already got detailed data from Director Cao Guang. This year’s total box office intake is 42.5 billion, a 21% drop compared to the sa period last year."
Lin Xueming paused his serious tone when he noticed Wu Mu approaching.
Not only him, but everyone in the smaller reception room also saw him.
The reactions varied throughout the reception room. So of the celebrity stand-ins looked rather surprised, seemingly curious why he, a rare visitor, showed up.
The big nas present, like the bosses of two major industry companies and Directors Tang Wei and Xie Chunfang, gave him a glance and then didn’t pay much attention.
Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, seed initially unresponsive, her eyes fixed on Wu Mu’s face for half a second before she had a mont of realization.
And... Geng Wei.
Upon seeing Wu Mu, Geng Wei’s expression visibly darkened. When their eyes t, his face twitched with a forced smile.
Wu Mu, naturally unaffected, rely glanced and moved on.
This indifferent attitude undoubtedly made Geng Wei’s expression even darker.
"This year’s total number of moviegoers has also decreased significantly. This year recorded 1.01 billion admissions, compared to last year’s 1.299 billion, a drop of nearly 300 million. Compared to 2019 when the total box office was 64.2 billion, this marks a 33.9% decline. In five years, our total box office revenue hasn’t grown; in fact, it has continuously dropped."
Lin Xueming slightly paused but didn’t stop speaking; after glancing at Wu Mu, he continued.
Wu Mu wasn’t bothered, standing quietly at the edge of the smaller reception room.
"In fact, this level is even lower than ten years ago in 2015, when the annual total box office was 44 billion. Our industry’s overall revenue has essentially regressed to the level from ten years ago. These worrying numbers strongly indicate that we, as film professionals, need to reflect on what has caused this outco."
Lin Xueming was discussing the shrinking film market.
This trend was apparent in recent years; the film market had been declining annually, contrary to the thriving era many anticipated years ago, instead regressing to the state from ten years prior.
The stark and exaggerated data, showing no growth over ten years, spurred a frigid sense of dread among these industry insiders present, each displaying so semblance of heaviness on their faces.
A drop in box office sales was a dire event for both bosses and celebrities alike.
If this continues, how many more years can they earn within this industry?
After Lin Xueming spoke, Tang Wei took over the conversation, "The issues Director Lin ntioned have been occupying my mind this year as well. Why have audiences lost interest in watching films? Why are people unwilling to spend money on cinema visits anymore?"
Wu Mu remained patient, continuing to listen.
However, Lin Qingyue’s mother didn’t let him wait long, beckoning to him.
Wu Mu gently walked over from the edge.
Sitting on the sofa, Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, slightly tilted her head to look at him, her tone gentle, "Are you Wu Mu?"
Wu Mu nodded, "Yes, hello, Aunt Du."
"You know ?"
"Director Lin ntioned you to ." Wu Mu habitually referred to Director Lin, prompting a glance from another Director Lin standing by.
"Why isn’t she here?"
"She still has production matters to handle and couldn’t leave."
Du Lan’s unexpectedly amiable deanor surprised Wu Mu.
She chatted with him like an ordinary elder.
As they chatted briefly, a wealthy lady sitting on the sofa nearby interjected, "Ah Lan, aren’t you going to introduce him to us?"
Du Lan smiled, "Does he even need an introduction? His features are so distinct."
Despite her words, Du Lan proceeded to introduce, "Wu Mu, this is Yao Ping, the wife of Boss Ji from Light Shadow dia."
"Nice to et you, Mrs. Yao," Wu Mu greeted politely.
The lady nad Yao Ping glanced at Du Lan teasingly, "Why call Ah Lan Aunt Lan but address as Mrs. Yao?"
Wu Mu easily followed her suggestion, "Aunt Yao."
Just as Tang Wei and others finished their conversation, Du Lan took the initiative to introduce Wu Mu one by one.
--------
While Wu Mu prepared for his second appearance, the live broadcast of the Sixty-Seven Gala, after a half-hour delay, finally aired.
In Zhang Li’s small apartnt, Zhang Li and Han Yan undoubtedly had been waiting in front of the computer screen.
Initially, they weren’t particularly interested in the Sixty-Seven Gala. If they were going to watch anything, it would be the CCTV Sixty-Seven with its stronger guest lineup and bigger production, or the Sha City Sixty-Seven, which promised more entertainnt and appealed more to the youth.
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