T/N: This chapter has been heavily edited and many parts have been cut out by me, the reason you can easily imagine it.
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Mr. Chen's attitude was very good.
For Xia Wen, making a movie was not a difficult task, and it was already within MiHoYo's considerations.
"Mr. Chen, a movie can indeed be made."
"But as for what exactly to film, and how to film it, that still needs further discussion."
Xia Wen spread his hands and said with a smile.
"No matter, as long as it can be filmed, that's enough!"
Hearing Xia Wen agree, Mr. Chen nodded in satisfaction.
He was clearly very confident in MiHoYo.
As if the moment MiHoYo stepped in to make a movie, it could directly save the market.
Xia Wen, however, was a little curious: "Mr. Chen, you seem to have a lot of confidence in MiHoYo?"
Mr. Chen nodded and smiled: "Others might still have some reservations for various reasons, but at least internally, I am very clear about MiHoYo's energy."
Xia Wen raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything.
Seeing that Xia Wen was curious, Mr. Chen didn't hide anything.
"Do you know, last time when I went to a global meet-up for the entertainment industry, "
"Discussing exchanges between countries, "
"At least three countries lodged serious protests with me."
Mr. Chen said with a squinting smile: "They said their streaming platforms, their main media channels, had at least seventy percent of their market share eaten up by MiHoYo."
At that time, it just so happened to be during the most exciting part of Penacony's arc.
Recalling this incident, Mr. Chen even seemed a little dazed.
Although internally, the policy of giving the Honkai series the green light had already been completely confirmed, the influence of the series overseas had still not been fully evaluated.
Until several countries officially complained. Which was the main reason for the green light and the reason he had come to MiHoYo to speak with Xia Wen.
"They complained all night."
"Saying that because of your arrival, their films and television industries were in crisis."
At this point, Mr. Chen laughed happily: "This really is the first time in history."
"Oh, right, there's more, someone even complained that your Penacony arc was using their streets and culture as sugar coating."
Xia Wen couldn't hold back: "Sugar-coated bullets?"
Mr. Chen slapped his thigh and laughed: "Imagine that, hearing that term come from their mouths."
Xia Wen clicked his tongue in amazement: "When did those people lose their confidence?"
Mr. Chen chuckled. Although he was older, he could still catch the joke.
After all, back in the day, he too had endured the poisonous rhetoric of "has XX lost confidence," and even harsher ideological struggles.
It must be said, just through this brief interaction, Mr. Chen found himself increasingly liking the young man before him.
"But, forgive me for being blunt, Mr. Chen."
Although Xia Wen was greatly amused by this dark humor, he shook his head and said: "In the end, entertainment products are judged by quality. Their dissatisfaction is their problem, it doesn't affect us."
"Very good, very spirited!" Mr. Chen praised him highly: "With you in the entertainment industry, I can rest easy."
After saying this, Mr. Chen also felt deeply moved.
He hadn't expected that one day, he would see a new company doing so well.
Mr. Chen didn't say it aloud, but in his heart, he was overjoyed.
The hit of the story of Penacony was the most powerful proof.
After the main matters had been discussed, he didn't leave immediately, instead, as a fan, he continued chatting with Xia Wen about creative ideas.
Especially about the bold act of introducing various cultural narratives in a single show.
This was precisely what Mr. Chen loved most.
He was very curious about how MiHoYo had managed to achieve this.
And Xia Wen's answer was very simple:
Enough sincerity and good scripts, never treat the audience like fools.
The two of them talked for a long while.
It was obvious, Mr. Chen really loves Honkai: Star Rail.
...
The next day.
Inside the MiHoYo company.
While everyone else was filming as usual.
Xia Wen was in his office, deep in thought.
On the one hand, it was about producing the script for Amphoreus.
Another matter was about whether to move forward with another film project.
"Honkai Impact 3rd?"
"Or Genshin Impact?"
Xia Wen pondered.
As far as using film as a medium goes, both themes seemed feasible.
The only thing troubling Xia Wen was how to unfold the story.
Whether to proceed step by step, filming little by little, or to condense some of the content.
After all, films are not the same as series.
In a series, sometimes you can spend a few minutes, even ten or more minutes, to explain certain information.
But in a film, that doesn't work. Information, content, story, all must be fused into every second.
Ensuring that the information density is sufficient every moment.
No time can be wasted.
"Forget it, just take it step by step."
"If the pacing is slower, then it's slower."
"MiHoYo is already world-renowned now. If we push for speed and pacing, it would feel a little like putting the cart before the horse."
Xia Wen finally made a decision.
Although it would be difficult, this challenge would also be the first of its kind for MiHoYo.
Honkai Impact 3rd.
Genshin Impact.
Both seemed possible.
Why not do both at once?
As Xia Wen's thoughts flowed.
A complete plan gradually appeared on the computer.
Centered around a Honkai: Star Rail series.
MiHoYo was finally about to enter the film industry.
Among them, the development of Honkai Impact 3rd would be somewhat simpler than Genshin.
With the foundation laid by the Star Rail series, the audience's understanding and level of immersion would be stronger.
Whereas for Genshin, the starting point would need careful consideration.
It was already a game filled with all kinds of grand and exaggerated information.
To extract all that information and ensure the audience could get a similar, or even more unique, experience through a film, that itself was extremely difficult.
In the end, Xia Wen decided to use an unprecedented investment, to carry out a dual-line development of film and series.
The series would not be as grand as Star Rail, but it would film quite a lot of side stories, supplementing the worldview and content.
At the same time, the film content would be merged together on a grand scale.
It would definitely bring the audience an experience distinct from the series.
Like the Harry Potter series, what excites people is not only the IP itself, but also the fun of interpreting the massive amount of information in every frame of the films.
This goes hand in hand with Genshin's lore, and the discussions about Honkai's worldview.
And for Star Rail, some of its stories could also be adapted onto the big screen.
While working on the Genshin and Honkai Impact 3rd projects.
They could first test the waters by adapting a Star Rail story into a film.
To gauge the acceptance of the audience and the market.
In the days that followed, Xia Wen fully immersed himself, even drafting scripts for the films.
Time flew by.
Soon, the next episode of Star Rail's Xianzhou arc aired.
On MiHoYo's official site, countless viewers gathered here, excitedly waiting for the release of the episode.
...
: A week of waiting! Finally here!
: Last week's trailer kept me awake all week!
: And there's also Boothill's personal story, damn, MiHoYo keeps cutting deeper!
: I hope this week I can finally see General Feixiao's story! Please don't drag it out anymore!
: Feixiao can't possibly be a traitor! This has to be MiHoYo's narrative trick!
: And Jingliu! Ahhh! Jingliu hasn't appeared for so long!
: I want to know what her purpose is this time?!
: Even we don't know what Hoolay's planning, and now he's fighting the three generals on the Xianzhou?!
...
Before the episode even started, the audience was already buzzing with excitement.
Last week's move of immediately releasing the next-episode trailer really raised the audience's expectations.
You could say they had been hooked by the trailer.
In such anticipation, the time quickly reached the premiere.
Countless viewers rushed to watch the latest episode.
The number of simultaneous viewers skyrocketed.
Hundreds of thousands at a time, by now, this had become routine for MiHoYo.
As the screen faded to black.
The content of this episode officially began.
The opening scene was on the bustling streets of Luofu.
A group of tourists were gathered here, discussing excitedly.
"Speaking of which, that Skysplitter has been floating in the sky for so many days."
"When will we be able to board and have a look?"
The Pepeshi, who had appeared before, said with hands on her hips.
"Don't worry, as long as we buy tickets, the event organizers will send us the boarding notice. I read in the paper that before the ceremony begins, the Skysplitter will fire a cannon as a signal!"
Another Intellitron replied.
Everyone's lively discussion made it seem as if the recent crisis had been completely hidden from their lives.
Or rather the news had been suppressed.
These tourists had no idea such things were happening on the Xianzhou.
Afterward, several tourists began discussing the dueling swordsman guarding the ring.
"Seems like it's just a half-grown kid?"
"So, wanna place a bet?"
"Ah, I don't dare bet anymore. Last time I watched a race, I lost everything."
"But still, that kid shouldn't be underestimated."
"Bard, who are you betting on to win?"
In the midst of the chatter. Not far away, Yanqing stood frowning and sullen.
He too heard these discussions about him, but couldn't feel any joy.
The Luminary Wardance...
Clearly it was supposed to be a grand event, but for Yanqing right now, it was nothing but unbearable pressure.
Hoolay had escaped prison and vanished.
And yet Luofu was still going to hold this kind of event. If something went wrong, it would truly be catastrophic...
Compared to his own master, the General, Yanqing was clearly deeply concerned, and very worried about the matter.
"Yanqing." At this moment, someone called out to him...