After the founding of the Miracle City Film Company, it didn't take long for Lin Qi to acquire the film adaptation rights for "It's A Good Life" and quickly announce plans to shoot "The Man from Earth." At that time, the entire company was excited; the young boss was acting so quickly, it seemed like there was going to be a big project.
Everyone wants their workplace to improve, especially employees who have experienced changes in ownership. They hope the company can truly develop and stabilize, getting rid of the uneasy feeling in their hearts.
But what surprised everyone was how fast the young boss's actions were. It took only a week from announcing the film production plan to completing the entire movie, including pre-production, casting, filming, and post-production.
What kind of movie can condense all these steps into just one week, especially a legendary science fiction film? It seemed like a joke!
For those who hadn't seen "[Immortal]," this was a concept they couldn't even imagine.
Many employees began to doubt the future of the new company. With such an unreliable boss, the company's prospects seemed bleak. So, in a company that had barely settled down, anxiety started to creep in.
However, Lin Qi turned a blind eye to the company's affairs. He continued to do things his own way. The film was quickly sent to the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) for review, with an expected release date in early April.
Soon, the film's rating came out as PG, which stands for Parental Guidance suggested. It didn't receive a G rating (General Audiences, suitable for all ages) because it contained a few words starting with the letter "F" and some gun-related scenes.
However, Lin Qi and Jiang Chengdu had no complaints about this. The target audience for this film was teenagers and older individuals with independent thinking abilities. Many of the dialogues had deep meanings that children might not understand, so the difference between G and PG ratings didn't matter.
After the review, the release date was set for April 1st, with no advanced screenings or previews for critics. This left the media and the public unsure about what to say.
They had never seen a filmmaker so confident in their own film! Even big directors like Spielberg would usually have critics preview their films before release to increase the audience's confidence.
Miracle City Films, on the other hand, was a newly established independent production company, with a CEO who had graduated from college less than a year ago, and he was also the director of the film. Where did he get this much confidence?
At this point, there was a lot of discussion in the media and among the public. People said all sorts of things, indirectly providing publicity for the film and saving a significant amount on advertising costs.
However, some expenses were inevitable, such as the film trailer, movie posters, and media interviews. These were all essential.
The only thing causing hesitation for Lin Qi was the trailer. Should they release it or not? The film relied entirely on its storyline, and there were no special effects or star-studded casts to highlight in the trailer. People were already curious about the film, and revealing too much of the plot might affect the box office.
After a careful discussion with Jiang Cheng, Lin Qi dispelled his doubts. There was nothing to worry about; whether or not the plot was revealed depended on how well the trailer was crafted, and a well-edited trailer could significantly boost the film's box office.
They had made a trailer for "[Immortal]" as well, without revealing much of the plot, and it had attracted more people to watch the film.
So, ten days before the film's release, the trailer for "The Man from Earth" was released online and in theaters where the film would be shown.
The trailer followed a similar format to "[Immortal]," with a narrator asking questions and showing scenes from the film. It introduced the concept of John's immortality and answered some intriguing questions like, "Can people truly live forever?" "How did he survive?" "What did he do over these 14,000 years?" It was similar to "[Immortal]" trailer in many ways.
However, it turned out that this unique trailer indeed attracted a significant portion of the American audience.
After watching the trailer for "The Man from Earth," many people left comments online.
Hello-K said, "Is John really immortal? That's an interesting question; I want to see this film."
Texan-Ranger said, "I'm curious about what he did in history, if he truly is immortal, or who he is in history."
Arby's-O'niell said, "It doesn't seem like a typical science fiction film; I want to watch it."...
Of course, there were also negative comments.
"Is this a science fiction film? Are they kidding? Is the director a grade-school dropout? Big-budget films like the 'Star Wars' series are real science fiction!" - Fukk-C said;
"The director should go back to school for a couple more years!" - Dunn-M said;
"If the director wanted to use the gimmick of 'science fiction' to attract people, then congratulations, he succeeded, I'm genuinely interested in this film. But if he wanted to get me into the theater, sorry, he failed; after watching the trailer, I don't want to see it." - Smat-R said;...
Looking at the online debates, it was clear that the trailer had succeeded in generating more interest in the film.
Soon, on April 1st, "The Man from Earth" had its premiere. There was no grand premiere ceremony; instead, Lin Qi led the film crew and company staff to watch the early screening at a theater in Los Angeles.
According to Lin Qi, the first screening didn't reach 100% occupancy, but it was above 85%, and the second screening had over 70% occupancy, which was considered good.
The next morning, the box office data for the film's opening day came out. In North America, a total of 528 theaters earned $2.3 million, with an average of $4,356 per theater. The data might not have been astonishing, but considering the film's low budget, it was remarkable. It had already covered its costs in just one day and was making a profit. Moreover, the reviews and reactions were favorable.
On IMDb, 5,418 users had rated it, with an impressive score of 8.7 on the main page and 8.6 from the top 250 users. Metacritic had given it a score of 88. Rotten Tomatoes had collected 85 reviews, with 75 fresh and 10 rotten, with an audience approval rating of 88% and an average rating of 4.0 out of 5.
It was an exceptionally unique science fiction film that made people think. - Daily Telegraph;
A low-budget gem that provides a different perspective on science fiction. - The New Era;
A world you can't even imagine. - Chicago Sun-Times...
One of the few films this year that truly makes you think after watching it. - Ben Mankiewicz, In Movies;
A profound and visually captivating masterpiece created with a low budget and a cast of fresh faces. The dialogue is incredibly intelligent. - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times;
The least typical science fiction film. - Joe Neumark, New York Daily News...
Renowned film critic Stephanie Zacharek gave it a score of 90 and wrote, "Lin Qi, the young director of 'The Man from Earth,' has surprised us with a simple yet profound story. This is a science fiction film that doesn't rely on special effects, explosions, or dazzling technology. Instead, it tells the story of an ordinary man who happens to be immortal. The film invites viewers to ponder the mysteries of life and human existence. It's a remarkable achievement for a first-time director."
The enthusiastic reviews gradually attracted more and more viewers to the theaters. "The Man from Earth" was not a typical science fiction film with advanced technology or epic battles, but it was a thought-provoking and unique piece of cinema that touched the hearts and minds of those who watched it.
As the days passed, more theaters began screening the film, and it continued to perform well at the box office. Word of mouth spread, and audiences praised it for its engaging story and exceptional performances. Lin Qi's bold move to release the film without advanced screenings or previews had paid off, as the mystery surrounding the movie and the positive reviews generated significant interest and curiosity.
"The Man from Earth" became a sleeper hit, exceeding expectations and earning a place among the notable independent films of the year. Lin Qi's debut as a director had not only proven his filmmaking talent but had also established Miracle City Film Company as a rising force in the industry.
The success of "The Man from Earth" marked the beginning of a new era for the company, with more ambitious projects and collaborations on the horizon. Lin Qi's unconventional approach to filmmaking had captivated both audiences and critics, solidifying his reputation as a director to watch in the future.
In Hollywood, the film's high ratings and unconventional approach shook the industry, prompting discussions about the future of sci-fi films and filmmaking in general.
Many wondered about the mysterious "Jiang Cheng," suspecting a connection with "[Immortal]" scriptwriter Jiang Cheng. Unfortunately, Miracle City Films hadn't responded to the speculations, and Jiang Cheng remained unreachable in China.
Lin Yi naturally hid behind the scenes, secretly amused. The overwhelmingly positive reviews for "This Man Comes from Earth" were not beyond his and Jiang Cheng's expectations. However, it wasn't time for them to reveal themselves yet; they decided to wait until the box office stabilized.
As for Jiang Cheng, he wasn't concerned with these matters because he had returned to Beijing at the time.
The reason was that a couple of days ago, Jiang Dejun had suddenly spoken to him with a grave expression, "Do you have any pressing matters lately? I hope you can postpone everything because I need to take you back to Beijing as soon as possible."
"I don't have anything urgent, Dad, what's going on? Why do we need to go back to Beijing?" Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled.
Jiang Dejun pursed his lips, his voice somewhat hoarse, "You're eighteen now, but I had hoped to spare you from this ordeal. Unfortunately, it seems fate has other plans, and you can't avoid it."
"Dad, what exactly is going on? What can't I avoid?" Jiang Cheng asked, his face turning pale as he sensed the deep unease and indelible sadness in Jiang Dejun's tone.
At that moment, he remembered what Lin Wanjun had told him when they first met: when he turned eighteen, Jiang Dejun would take him back to Beijing to learn about the Jiang family's matters. After his discreet eighteenth birthday on the set of "High School Musical," Jiang Dejun hadn't mentioned it, so he didn't dwell on it. But now, seeing Jiang Dejun bring it up so seriously, he was perplexed and eager to know the truth.
"You'll naturally find out the specifics once we return to Beijing, but that's not the main point. The main thing is…" Jiang Dejun suddenly stopped, his eyes reddening as he said with sorrow, "I'm afraid your grandfather might not make it much longer!"
"What?! Grandfather!"
Jiang Cheng exclaimed, shocked by the news.