Headlines from China: ‘Johnny English Strikes Again’ Scores November 23 China Release

‘Johnny English Strikes Again’ Scores November 23 China Release

2018 action comedy film Johnny English Strikes Again, which is directed by David Kerr and stars Rowan Atkinson, has scored a November 23 China release. Another foreign film to be released on November 23 is Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph. ‘Johnny English Strikes Again’ is a sequel to the 2011 film of Johnny English Reborn and the third installment in the Johnny English series. In this film, Johnny English is forced to return to work after a cyber-attach reveals the identity of all the active undercover agents in Britain. Read more on Mtime

How Does iQiyi Attract Advertisers Without Revealing Viewing Figures?

Fall is the time when online video platforms make deals with advertisers to set up ad placements for the upcoming year. In China, advertisers place ads on video platforms based on viewing figures. For video giant iQiyi’s ad sales department, 2018 might be a tough year, as the company decided to stop revealing viewing figures in early September to battle fake views. While some advertisers are concerned about iQiyi’s new policy, iQiyi CEO Gong Yu doesn’t regret the decision.  the company increases its efforts in finding a way to truly measure a show’s popularity and commercial value for advertisers. Meanwhile, it spends more efforts in increasing its subscription revenue and decreasing its dependance on ad revenue. After all, being a listed company with scrutiny from SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), it probably is not a good idea to associate itself with fake data. Read more on TMT Post

Bi Gan’s ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ Set for December 31 Release

Long Day’s Journey Into Night, a 2018 arthouse movie directed by Bi Gan and starring Huang Jue, Tang Wei and Salvia Chang, has been set to release in Chinese theaters on December 31. Bi Gan gained international acclaim through his first feature film Kaili Blues, which became a film festival favorite for its dreamy style and an impressive 40-minute take. Long Day’s Journey Into Night is Bi Gan’s second feature film and has been screened at various major international film festivals, including Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival. In this film, Bi Gan continues his dreamy style and presents an even longer and more mesmerizing 50-plus-minute sequence-shot. Read more on Mtime