Nian's documentary about the Infected, "The Infected", was finally released in theaters across Columbia's major mobile cities a week later, after its popularity soared to new heights under the authorized promotion of the Columbia Pictures Group.
Don't underestimate the power of online promotion. Besides, the subject matter itself was extremely rare, perhaps even the first of its kind. When the first screening began, many theaters were practically full. Everyone was incredibly interested in this documentary about the Infected.
When the first screening ended and the audience members walked out of the theater, some of the more soft-hearted ones couldn't help but wipe away tears. Although the cinematography was mediocre, it was barely passable, within the realm of watchable.
But the emotions expressed in this documentary were exceptionally sincere.
Moreover, due to the nature of a documentary.
It was different from a movie.
A movie requires artistic embellishment.
A documentary, however, is completely real.
Those interviewed were real Infected, and the scenes filmed were real, showing the current plight of the Infected. Only those who were Infected themselves could truly portray that helplessness, that despair. This despair of being forsaken by the world was something no award-winning actor who hadn't experienced it could ever perform.
Therefore.
Although the filming was a bit of a letdown.
The raw emotions contained within the documentary were not fake. This emotion struck deep into people's hearts, moving them to tears and contemplation, resonating with their own feelings. This was the highest achievement a documentary could reach.
"Sob... These children are so pitiful. I saw that many in the film are minors, the same age as our own children..."
A middle-aged couple walked out of the cinema, crying silently. There were also young couples who walked out in silence.
The film had only premiered for one day.
But the response from Columbian society was unprecedentedly strong. At this point, the box office numbers no longer mattered. More and more people were walking into theaters, and many well-known film critics online also gave their scores.
If judged purely on its artistic merit as a documentary, it would only get a six out of ten. The filming was simply too amateurish. Ordinary viewers might not see how amateurish it was, only feeling that it lacked the polish of a professional film, but professional filmmakers could tell at a glance just how amateur the two directors were.
However.
A film often cannot be judged solely on its artistic merit. The original purpose of a documentary is to evoke emotion, and clearly, it had succeeded.
Considering a comprehensive score, it could be given an eight or nine.
Its only regret was the cinematography.
If they had hired a professional director, a professional cameraman, and a professional editor, this film might have gone down in history as one of the most classic documentaries in Columbian film history.
In fact, after watching it, many famous Columbian directors were already eager to contact these two young directors, hoping to collaborate on a remake that could truly be immortalized in the annals of history. However, this thought flashed through their minds and was gone.
After all.
If they were asked to film a movie with the Infected as the main theme, would they dare?
The answer was no.
The topic of the Infected wasn't just sensitive in Columbia; it was sensitive worldwide. Since these two young people dared to film it, it meant the backing behind them could only be described as terrifying. A director who had a good relationship with the chairman of the Columbia Pictures Group had also inquired about the pair's background.
In the end, with a simple hint from the chairman, he instantly understood.
Jessica's villa.
"Hey... do you think we've... gone viral??"
Ever since the movie premiered, Nian had been nervously scrolling through her phone, reading the online reviews for her film.
And yet...
The comments just kept growing...
After just one day, the film already had over a hundred thousand comments. Keep in mind, Terra is different from Lucas Reeve's previous life. On Terra, those who could afford to watch movies were at least residents of mobile cities, and the population of mobile cities was far from comparable to his previous world. Therefore, a hundred thousand comments on the first day of release was already terrifying. As for the box office, Nian wasn't interested. Money held little meaning for her. The audience's comments were what mattered.
The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, though there were some malicious negative reviews mixed in.
Nian was a bit annoyed when she saw them. She even felt like reaching through the internet cable to give the person on the other end a good slap.
But the overall reviews were still quite high. Even the complaints were only about the technical level of the filming; there were no other criticisms.
"Congratulations~"
Dusk rarely came out of her room, but her tone quickly shifted.
"But... I don't even need to think to know that 90% of the credit goes to Lucas Reeve. If Lucas Reeve wasn't supervising on the side, I bet what you filmed would still be garbage."
Nian really wanted to refute, but she just scratched her head, momentarily at a loss for words. She could only say, "That's true," to ease her current embarrassment.
Seeing the strong public reaction.
The Columbia Pictures Group simply launched an even larger promotional campaign.
If it had been an independent director, forget promotion, a documentary on such a highly sensitive topic would never have been allowed to be screened. Of course, no one would dare to film it either. But with Raythean Industries backing them, the chairman didn't care. If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up. He was just a worker, after all.
A few days later.
"The Infected" became incredibly popular in all of Columbia's major mobile cities. Many who had seen it even chose to bring their family and friends for a second viewing. The box office revenue shot up.
And within Columbia, people began to seriously consider the current situation of the Infected.
Some citizens even united to submit opinions to the Columbian Parliament, asking to improve the treatment of the Infected and calling on other citizens to end discrimination against them. After all, the Infected were human too. They asked: what if your own children or parents contracted Oripathy? Would you also casually abandon them in the slums?
The Columbian Parliament did not make any statement, which only made the united citizens appeal more intensely. Some of the bolder ones even grouped up to head to the slums to distribute basic living supplies to the Infected there.
However, this was just the voice of the people.
The Columbian Federal Parliament also held a discussion regarding this recent documentary about the Infected. Someone proposed pulling the film, but this suggestion was quickly vetoed. The documentary was currently at an unprecedented peak of popularity. If they deliberately pulled it now, their intentions would be glaringly obvious, and they would even face public outrage.
But... actually change the situation for the Infected??
How was that possible!
If they were to deliberately provide relief for every Infected person, how much money would that cost... Moreover, 99% of companies would not hire an Infected employee. Even if they were given aid, what would happen? Once the relief funds ran out, they would inevitably return to their original state. As for providing a monthly stipend... that was completely unrealistic. How much money would that entail...
Besides.
For these parliament members, the current social situation was perfectly stable.
Finally, after the meeting, they decided... to say nothing. If citizens wanted to provide aid, they could do it themselves. Later, the parliament also issued a proposal.
Regarding the issue of the Infected.
The Infected possess the same rights and freedoms as non-Infected citizens of Columbia.
Of course, no matter how you looked at it, these were just empty words.
A few more days passed.
Even without the deliberate guidance of the Columbia Pictures Group, the topic of the Infected was pushed to the forefront. The documentary itself was hardly discussed anymore; instead, countless people across Columbia were online discussing issues related to the Infected.
Since there were those who stood with the Infected, there were naturally those who stood against them, and their numbers were not small.
Over time.
These two groups gradually evolved into two different factions. One chose to help the Infected, advocating for a life without discrimination where they could live alongside ordinary people. The other side held the opposing view.
In fact.
The Infected in the slums didn't even know.
In the urban districts of Columbia, two groups of people were already engaged in an online flame war that had lasted for days, all for their sake.
Since the numbers on both sides were roughly equal, the verbal sparring went on for days and nights without any result. Consequently, many of those who opposed the Infected turned their anger toward the movie and its two directors, Lucas Reeve and Nian...
Some attacked them online.
These two directors were clearly not Columbians. What were the intentions of two foreigners deliberately filming this kind of movie in Columbia's homeland??
However, there were also some bolder, more radical types who chose to trace the two 'directors' through the internet, trying to "meet" them offline.
And then... as they investigated, things felt more and more off... Just as they were about to get a result... there was a knock on the door, with someone claiming to be checking the water meter.
Nian never expected that the thing she filmed would become this popular. You could just scroll through online forums and media and see her name.
She was appraised as the mysterious director Miss Nian, and the mysterious director Mr. Lucas Reeve. Someone even discovered that the ridiculously absurd award-winning film from last year was also directed by this same Miss Nian.
Moreover, the popularity wasn't just high in Columbia.
The documentary had even broken out of the circle, reaching other countries and cities.
Lungmen, Ursus, Victoria, Kazimierz, and so on...
"Old Ch'en!"
In the office of the Lungmen Guard Department.
Hoshiguma ran in, not even bothering to knock, and burst directly into Officer Ch'en's office.
"Have you seen that documentary?"
Hoshiguma was slightly agitated.
"Those two directors are f***ing top-tier talents!! They actually dared to film it. I really respect them."
Before joining the L.G.D., Hoshiguma was the big sister boss of the Lungmen slums. Although she wasn't Infected, she had many Infected followers back when she was the boss. She knew all too well what life was like for the Infected. This documentary was filmed so realistically!! It was exactly as she remembered.
Officer Ch'en, sitting at the desk, nodded with a blank expression.
"I've seen it. It's indeed good. What's the public's reaction?"
Hoshiguma said: "Right now, many ordinary people in the downtown and upper districts want to give the Infected a better life."
The corner of Officer Ch'en's mouth quirked up slightly.
"However, the names of these two directors... Lucas Reeve, Nian... why do I, on first hearing, feel like they're from our Lungmen or Yan?"
Yan.
When this movie reached Yan, Yan's film conglomerate was reluctant to screen it. It was a bit too... sensitive. He didn't dare take the risk. Besides, Yan itself adopted a tolerant attitude toward the Infected.
However, just as this person in charge was hesitating, he received a handwritten order from a big shot in the capital, saying that in order to let the people better understand the Infected and to promote internal unity and friendship in Yan, the documentary was permitted to be screened nationwide.
Of course, the one who delivered the order was the Grand Tutor.
After all, when the Grand Tutor saw the two names on the director list, he agreed without a second thought.
As for Ursus.
When the various Grand Dukes of Ursus saw this documentary, and saw that 80% of it was filmed *in* Ursus, their faces all turned green with rage. It wasn't just the Grand Dukes; even the Emperor of Ursus was a bit angry after watching it. Although he was part of the integrationist faction and chose to accept the Infected, this documentary was a bit....