As the final special effects light and shadow perfectly merged on the screen, the entire post-production studio erupted in deafening cheers. For months, the entire crew had been racing against time and battling various challenges, and now they had finally reached this seemingly impending moment. Ling Yichen and Jun Moran were surrounded by staff, their faces beaming with relief. But they both knew that this was only the penultimate stage of a long journey; the promotion and distribution of the new drama before its release would also be a tough battle without bloodshed.
As the celebrations subsided, the publicity team quickly threw themselves into their work. They meticulously planned a series of campaign strategies, from social media pre-launch hype to a grand press conference and in-depth reporting in collaboration with major media outlets—each step was carefully considered. However, just as the publicity campaign was progressing smoothly, an unexpected situation arose.
A well-known entertainment blogger suddenly published a long article on social media, claiming that the new drama was suspected of serious plagiarism. The article listed a large amount of so-called "evidence," arguing that everything from the plot structure and character settings to even some details of the dialogue were highly similar to a niche work from many years ago. This article, once published, was like a bombshell, causing a huge uproar online.
"No way, I've been really looking forward to this show, and it's plagiarized?"
"This is so disappointing! How could the production team do this?"
Negative comments flooded in, and within just a few hours, the topic's popularity soared, becoming a hot topic online. When Ling Yichen and Jun Moran saw the article, shock and anger instantly overwhelmed them. They knew all too well that plagiarism was a major taboo in the film and television industry, and if this accusation were proven, their new drama would be completely canceled before it even aired.
"That's utter nonsense! From scriptwriting to filming and production, every step was original. How could we possibly plagiarize?" Ling Yichen slammed his fist on the table, his face full of anger.
Jun Mo Ran also frowned deeply. She calmly analyzed, "The most important thing now is to clarify the facts as soon as possible and not let these rumors continue to spread. We will hold a press conference immediately to show the public our creative process and original materials to prove our innocence."
The production team sprang into action, urgently preparing a press conference. They collected a vast amount of material, from manuscripts and creative discussion records during the script conception stage to storyboards and behind-the-scenes footage from the filming process, compiling them into a detailed chain of evidence. At the press conference, Ling Yichen, with a serious expression, presented this evidence to the media and the public present.
"We can say with a clear conscience that this drama is the culmination of the hard work of our entire crew, and every detail is our original creation. The so-called plagiarism accusations are nothing but malicious slander." Ling Yichen's voice was firm and powerful, echoing throughout the press conference.
Jun Mo Ran added, "We have contacted lawyers. We will never tolerate such malicious rumors and will definitely pursue the matter to the end."
However, despite the production team presenting ample evidence, some netizens and media outlets remained skeptical. After all, in this age of information overload, rumors spread far faster than the truth can be clarified. To completely reverse the public opinion situation, the production team decided to take the initiative, inviting renowned screenwriters, directors, and experts to form a judging panel to conduct a professional evaluation and assessment of the script.
After carefully reviewing the script and related materials, the judging panel issued an authoritative assessment. They unanimously agreed that the drama's plot structure was unique, its character settings were novel, and it possessed a high degree of innovation and originality, thus ruling out plagiarism. Once this assessment report was released, public opinion online began to shift. Many netizens who were initially skeptical expressed their belief in the production team's innocence after seeing the professional judging panel's opinion.
Just when the production team thought the public relations crisis was about to pass, new problems arose one after another. Due to numerous difficulties encountered during pre-production and post-production, the production team faced a severe funding shortfall. The budget originally allocated for publicity and promotion was drastically reduced, putting the publicity efforts in jeopardy.
"Without sufficient funds for promotion, even if a new drama is released, it will be difficult to gain enough attention," the publicity manager said worriedly.
Ling Yichen and Jun Moran fell into deep thought. They knew the importance of promotion for the new drama, but their current financial situation was indeed very tight. After some discussion, they decided to communicate with the investors again, hoping to secure more financial support.
However, the investors hesitated after learning about the production team's financial difficulties. They worried that continuing to invest would pose greater risks, as the new drama had not yet been released and its market response was still unknown. Ling Yichen and Jun Moran negotiated with the investors multiple times, demonstrating the advantages and potential of the new drama, as well as the efforts the production team had made to overcome various difficulties.
During the negotiations, some disagreements arose within the production team. Some staff members believed that promotional standards should be lowered and unnecessary expenses reduced to ensure the new drama's smooth release. Others insisted that promotion was crucial to the drama's success and that its quality should not be compromised due to funding issues. The two sides held firm to their opinions, arguing incessantly, which further strained the already tense atmosphere.
Ling Yichen looked at the arguing crowd, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that at this crucial moment, unity within the crew was paramount. He took a deep breath and said loudly, "Everyone, stop arguing! We've worked together to get this far; we can't let this little difficulty cause us to fall apart. Let's think of another way; we're sure we can find a solution."
Just when the film crew was at a standstill, an unexpected turning point occurred...
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