dexinwin A 40-year-old mathematics teacher from central China has attracted widespread attention after investing more than 3 million yuan (about $420,000) of his own savings and borrowed money to make a feature film, only to see the movie earn just over 20,000 yuan at the box office during its first eight days in theaters.
The film, titledWhere Have We Seen Each Other?(《我们好像在哪里见过》), opened nationwide on September 11. According to recent Chinese media reports, its total box office remained above 20,000 yuan after eight days, while its daily screenings had fallen sharply following a weak opening.
The filmmaker, identified by Chinese media as Mr. Cui, is from Jiyuan, Henan Province. He has worked in the education and training sector for years and is an experienced mathematics teacher. He said he had dreamed of making a movie for more than two decades and regularly went to cinemas to watch films.
Last year, after deciding that he was financially able to pursue his long-held ambition, Cui invested his personal savings and borrowed additional money. He eventually put more than 3 million yuan into the project.
The film was shot in Xinyang, Henan, with Cui serving as producer and following the production process himself. From project development and filming to obtaining permission for theatrical release, the entire process took nearly a year.
The movie is a youth romance story. It follows a girl named Xia Xue, who develops feelings for a popular boy, Gu Zhaoran, after meeting him at school. Because of her insecurity, she initially lacks the courage to express her feelings. Her classmate Lin Xi helps her become more confident and pursue the relationship, before the story introduces further twists.
The film had a preview screening in Henan on August 22 before receiving its nationwide theatrical release on September 11.
Cui said cinemas initially scheduled more than 900 screenings nationwide. However, attendance was low, with first-day box-office revenue reported at just over 8,000 yuan. As demand remained weak, the number of screenings was rapidly reduced. Recent reports said only more than 100 screenings were being arranged per day.
By September 18, the film was still in theaters, but Cui said he believed there was little chance of recovering the investment. He told reporters that the project had used up his savings and left him with debts of several hundred thousand yuan.
Cui also reflected on the difficulties he encountered during production. He said filmmaking required spending on equipment, personnel, accommodation and transportation, while his limited promotional budget became a major problem after production was completed. The movie ultimately entered theaters with very limited marketing resources.
On September 17, Cui posted a video on social media saying that he planned to say goodbye to the film industry and his dream of making movies.
He said the experience had taught him that the film industry is highly professional and depends not only on creative ideas but also on experienced teams, production capabilities and sufficient promotion.
A veteran film-industry professional quoted by Chinese media similarly said that making a theatrical movie is an industrial process involving multiple departments and specialized roles. The professional noted that the success of a few low-budget independent productions should not be taken as evidence that large-scale investment and professional experience are unnecessary.
For Cui, the disappointing box-office performance has turned a 20-year dream into a costly lesson. His experience has also sparked online discussion about the financial risks of entering the theatrical film market without established industry experience or sufficient distribution and marketing resources.
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