Entertainment: You're asked to make a graduation project, but you're asked to film Ultrama

Chapter 35: Praise to Death! We Want to Pollute "Tokusatsu"

The in-depth analysis article titled "Where exactly did the 9000 million yuan production budget go?" was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely igniting public opinion.

If the previous evidence from content creators was merely public speculation, then the subsequent reposts by several industry association accounts with official backing effectively gave "Superpower Overlord" a suspended death sentence.

A well-known screenwriters association posted a veiled message on its official Weibo account.

"Technology is a tool to aid creation, not a fig leaf to cover up intellectual poverty. AI can generate text, but it cannot generate human emotions. The industrialization of film and television does not equate to 'dehumanization'."

Although no names were mentioned, at this critical juncture, everyone knows who this is referring to.

In a short time, hashtags such as #QiaoTianZunAIPlagiarismScript# and #9000MillionMoneyLaunderingSuspected# were pushed to the top of the trending searches by angry netizens.

"This is disgusting. They take investors' money, use AI to copy lines, and piece together special effects from existing material libraries. Is this what they call a domestic blockbuster?"

"We can't hold back anymore. The key issue is that it's AI plagiarism. This thing isn't 100% duplicated, so even if we sue them, it won't do any good."

"Give me my money back! I paid for a membership to watch this stuff, and it feels like my IQ has been completely humiliated!"

Faced with widespread criticism online, the public relations department of Qiaotianzun responded as always—by playing dead.

They released a lukewarm statement, essentially saying that "some self-media outlets are maliciously spreading rumors, and the company reserves the right to pursue legal action." They firmly denied plagiarism, insisting that "Superpower Overlord" is a completely original IP, and that the similarity in storyboards was simply a case of "great minds think alike."

This argument, though shameless, is effective.

Because Gu Nan never spoke up about the Light Chaser Studio.

There was no lawyer's letter, no public condemnation, and not even a sarcastic Weibo post.

The person in question wasn't in a hurry, and after burning for a few days, netizens' anger gradually cooled down due to new gossip.

After all, in this fast-paced internet age, everyone's attention will soon be drawn to the next hot topic.

However, while the online uproar may subside, the panic in the capital markets cannot be concealed.

On Monday, Qiaotianzun's stock price gapped down at the open, and within just half an hour, the green decline curve resembled a kite with a broken string, heading straight for the daily limit down.

A huge amount of market value evaporated in just one day.

This finally made the old guys on the board of directors, who had been sitting behind the scenes, unable to sit still any longer.

……

Top-floor conference room of the Qiaotianzun Building.

The atmosphere was tense, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Zhao Rui sat at one end of the long table.

He's already in a precarious situation himself.

Opposite him, several gray-haired directors were staring at him with angry expressions.

"Zhao Rui! Is this your explanation to us?!"

One of the directors slammed a thick stack of financial statements on the table. "The stock price has plummeted! Our reputation has collapsed! Is this your 'comeback' project, which cost you 90 million? A comeback? I think it's a complete disaster!"

"Chairman Sun, please let me explain."

Zhao Rui wiped his sweat and forced a smile as he explained, "This is only temporary! The data for 'Superpower Overlord' isn't actually bad. The premiere episode already garnered over 20 million views, and as the story unfolds..."

"Shut up!"

Chairman Sun roared, "Data? Do you think we don't know where that data came from? Bought traffic! Fake orders! It's all inflated! Now the whole internet is calling us an 'AI scammer.' If this continues, even our profitable toy business will be boycotted!"

"I think this project must be stopped immediately! We need to cut our losses!"

"No!"

Zhao Rui suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot, like a trapped beast cornered in a desperate situation.

"We absolutely cannot stop! If we stop now, half of the previous 90 million will go down the drain! And if we admit defeat, it's the same as admitting we lost to those college students! How will Qian Tianzun ever be able to survive in this industry again?"

"At least... at least let me finish this season! I'm confident that as long as we increase the promotional efforts, even negative publicity is still publicity, and traffic can be monetized!"

Zhao Rui said through gritted teeth.

The meeting room fell into a stalemate.

The board members looked at each other in bewilderment.

Although they wished they could tear Zhao Rui apart, Zhao Rui was right. Withdrawing the film now would mean losing everything, and admitting defeat would likely have an even greater impact on the stock price.

Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.

"Since Mr. Zhao is so confident, why don't we find him an assistant?"

With a clear, cold voice, a woman dressed in a white business suit and red-soled high heels walked in.

She looked to be around thirty years old, with exquisite makeup, but her eyes were as cold as ice, and she held an appointment letter in her hand.

Zhao Rui was stunned: "Who are you?"

The chairman spoke slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Zhao Rui, let me introduce you. This is Su Man, who previously worked in crisis public relations and brand strategy at a multinational 4A agency. From today onwards, she will serve as the company's Chief Operating Officer (COO), fully responsible for the strategic adjustments of the content department."

"You need to... cooperate fully with President Su's work."

Zhao Rui's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Cooperate?

This is clearly a decentralization! It's a power grab!

"Chairman, I don't need it..."

"This is a decision made by the board of directors."

The chairman interrupted him directly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Either accept it, or pack your bags and leave right now."

Zhao Rui clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

He stared intently at the woman named Su Man, and finally slumped back into his chair.

"……I see."

……

Half an hour later, in the president's office.

Zhao Rui lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked at Su Man sitting on the opposite sofa with a sinister gaze.

"President Su, a new broom sweeps clean. How do you plan to do it?"

Zhao Rui sneered, "Are you going to cancel my project? Or go apologize to that Gu Nan?"

Su Man waved her hand dismissively to dispel the smell of smoke.

"Mr. Zhao, your methods are too outdated."

Su Man chuckled. "A head-on collision? Competing with Ultraman Tiga in terms of reputation? In terms of quality? Are you trying to kill Ultraman Tiga already?"

"Then what do you suggest we do? Are we just going to stand by and watch them shit on our heads?"

"Of course not."

Su Man stood up.

"Since Ultraman Tiga is now a 'masterpiece' and a 'light' for the audience, let's give it a hand."

"Help him?" Zhao Rui was stunned, thinking he had misheard.

"Yes, it's a case of 'praise to death'."

Su Man turned around, her eyes flashing with a chilling light. "What do netizens hate most these days? It's not bad movies, but—fanatical, mindless, and aggressive fans."

"We want to create a group of 'Tiga die-hard fans'."

Su Man, in her high heels, walked step by step to Zhao Rui, her voice like a devil's whisper:

"These people don't need to praise Ultraman Tiga; they only need to do one thing: frantically praise Ultraman Tiga and... frantically attack all other IPs."

"Let them flood the comments sections of popular anime, movies, and even unrelated videos with comments like: 'What garbage is this? It's not even as good as a single hair from Ultraman Tiga,' 'Still watching this kind of brainless anime? I suggest you go and learn the depth of Ultraman Tiga,' 'People who don't watch Ultraman Tiga are tasteless, inferior beings.'"

Zhao Rui's pupils suddenly contracted.

That move... was too vicious!

This is a typical example of "fan circle-style" operation, also known as "raising a treacherous spirit".

"When passersby can see Ultraman Tiga fans engaging in derogatory behavior, inciting conflict, and displaying an overwhelming sense of superiority in any video they click on,"

Su Man sneered, "How long do you think the public's goodwill towards 'Ultraman Tiga' will last?"

"At that time, we won't even need to lift a finger. Enraged bystanders and fans from other circles will naturally bring Ultraman Tiga down from its pedestal. 'Hikaru'? Hmph, I'll turn him into a 'cult' that everyone hates."

Zhao Rui gasped. He used to only know how to spend money to hire online trolls to smear people, but he never imagined it could be done this way.

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

Zhao Rui had no choice but to admit defeat.

But that's not enough.

Su Man changed the subject abruptly, "Simply ruining their reputation isn't enough to regain our market share. We must crush them in terms of sheer numbers."

"quantity?"

"Yes. Mr. Zhao, you're too fixated on creating something like 'Superpower Overlord'—a 'masterpiece'... Besides, what you've made isn't exactly a masterpiece; it even 'borrows' from Ultraman Tiga..."

Su Man glanced disdainfully at the CG poster on the big screen. "It's expensive, time-consuming, and easy to expose."

"Don't we have the copyright to the Showa Ultra Six Brothers? Even though it's an old calendar, it's still Ultraman."

Su Man progressed step by step.

"Let's go all out. Forget about big productions, just use the existing costumes, even if they're a bit rough around the edges. We're going to make web series, short videos, feature films, and even children's animations."

"I want to see three new dramas released within a month!"

"Script? Just plagiarize it. As long as the logic is sound, make the core idea of ​​'good triumphs over evil' clear, use normal values, and add a little so-called 'educational significance' to please parents."

"We want to flood the market with 'Qiao Tianzun Edition' Ultraman. Parents and children will turn on the TV and their phones, and everywhere they look, there will be our Ultraman. When the market is filled with our low-end products, Gu Nan's 'premium' product will be drowned in a sea of ​​information."

Zhao Rui frowned: "But... if we do it this way, the quality will definitely be very poor, and the reputation will be even worse."

"Reputation?"

Su Man seemed to have heard a joke. "President Zhao, don't you understand? If we try to compete with Chasing Light Studio on morality and quality now, we're bound to lose."

"Our only advantage is the copyright recognition of the three words 'Ultraman' and our huge distribution channels."

"We want to completely vulgarize and trivialize the concept of 'Ultraman.' So that when the public hears Ultraman, they think of 'it's just a thing to amuse children,' instead of 'a profound tokusatsu' (special effects film)."

"When the water in the entire pool becomes murky, how can Gu Nan, that clear-skinned fish, survive?"

There was no warmth in Su Man's eyes.

"This is war, Mr. Zhao. Business is business. What does it matter if we ruin the industry, as long as we win?"

Looking at the woman in front of him, Zhao Rui felt a chill run down his spine.

Compared to his straightforward nouveau riche methods, this Su Man is the real capitalist who preys on people without spitting out the bones.

"it is good."

Zhao Rui stubbed out his cigarette fiercely, his eyes turning ruthless again. "Do as you say."