Before a film is released on a wide scale, it is typically shown in test screenings at selected theaters in key regions.
The first test screening for Wedding Wedding followed tradition and was held at Beijing Normal University.
It was considered a tradition because, beginning in 1993, Beijing Normal University had hosted the annual Chinese College Student Film Festival, and many young directors chose to premiere their films there.
The festival was originally initiated by the university’s School of Arts and Media. Although it was called a college student film festival, it had a strong official backing. It was jointly approved by the National Radio, Film and Television Administration, the Ministry of Education, and the Beijing Municipal Committee, and co-hosted by Beijing Normal University and the Beijing Radio, Film and Television Bureau.
It was also the first film festival held in China each year, and many young directors had launched their careers and earned widespread recognition there.
Chi Ying deliberately scheduled Wedding Wedding‘s preview screening for a Saturday at Beijing Normal University. She attached great importance to this event.
From the very beginning of production, the film had been positioned for a young audience. The plan was to target university communities in the first wave of screenings, build word of mouth among young people, and then gradually expand its influence to surrounding regions and broader demographics.
Strictly speaking, from the moment this test screening began, the film’s promotional campaign had officially started.
The screening was scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and Chi Ying, Song Lin, and Tan Yi headed out well ahead of time.
They traveled light. Chi Ying had originally wanted to ask Lu Wei to come along, but he had flatly refused.
Lu Wei had told her honestly, “I’m not good with words. I’d rather express myself through the camera. If you put me in this kind of situation, it’ll only backfire. You three can handle it. Don’t count on me.”
Chi Ying didn’t press him.
The three of them were dressed casually, looking no different from the students on campus. Walking through the university and watching groups of students heading toward the auditorium, it was impossible not to feel excited.
As the film’s main creative team, they sat in the back of the auditorium, waiting until the screening ended before interacting with the audience. Members of the student union accompanied them nearby.
The ninety-minute runtime passed quickly.
During the screening, Chi Ying occasionally glanced toward the entrance, paying attention to how many people left midway to use the restroom or simply slipped out.
The result was encouraging. Hardly anyone left, and laughter frequently echoed through the auditorium. The audience laughed exactly where they were supposed to, which meant the jokes were landing well.
When the lights came on, it was their turn to take the stage.
The host began by introducing them to the college students in attendance.
“Everyone, these three are the director, leading actress, and leading actor of the film you just watched, Wedding Wedding. They all graduated from the Beijing Film Academy this year, and this is the first feature film they’ve independently produced…”
The audience immediately burst into astonished exclamations.
They found it hard to believe that such a polished film had been made by such a young team. Looking at the people on stage, who seemed almost no different from themselves, many students felt an instant sense of connection. They applauded enthusiastically of their own accord.
The Q&A session began.
A girl seated near the front was the first to raise her hand.
She was cute, wearing a pair of round black-rimmed glasses. After accepting the microphone from the host, she asked, “Director Chi, I felt so comfortable watching this movie. Time just flew by. There were so many funny moments throughout, but I don’t know why. When the two people who loved each other finally ended up together, I suddenly wanted to cry. Why did I feel that way?”
Chi Ying smiled.
“That’s a perfectly natural reaction. By the end of the film, the male and female leads have completed one chapter of their lives and are stepping into the next one together.”
“It’s like graduating from high school and getting accepted into the university you’ve always dreamed of. That’s something worth celebrating, but at the same time, we cry. We feel nostalgic, because we’re entering a new stage of life.”
“The same applies to the couple in this film. They’re fortunate because they truly love each other. Their relationship survives countless trials and obstacles, and in the end, they overcome them all.”
“But in real life, many couples who deeply love each other are still defeated by the realities of life. So what moved you was their love, and your tears came from happiness.”
“Some people say marriage is the graveyard of love. But for these two, marriage isn’t the end of their love. It’s the beginning of a new journey together. If that’s how you felt, then I haven’t told this story in vain.”
The girl with the glasses nodded thoughtfully before sitting back down.
The next person to take the microphone was another female student, this time directing her question at Tan Yi.
“I’d like to ask the leading actor. Zheng Wen is such a perfect guy in the movie. He’s tall, handsome, an outstanding student, successful in his career, and deeply devoted to Tong Xiaole. Because of his determination, their relationship ultimately has a happy ending. I’d like to ask… are you like that in real life too?”
“Ooooh…”
The audience immediately began teasing him in good humor.
It was obvious she’d become completely immersed in the movie.
Tan Yi smiled before answering.
“The male lead, Zheng Wen, is indeed a very ideal young man. He’s thoughtful, responsible, and excellent in every aspect.”
“Objectively speaking, his life has gone quite smoothly. The biggest challenge he ever faces is everything surrounding his marriage to Tong Xiaole. None of it is a matter of life or death, but it’s incredibly draining to go through.”
“I’m not as perfect as he is, but I’ve done my best to portray someone who’s both ideal and still feels attainable.”
The girl wasn’t satisfied.
She suddenly stood up again.
“Do you have a girlfriend? And if you do, is she as lucky as Tong Xiaole?”
The cheering grew even louder.
Some of the students even started whistling.
The girl didn’t back down, keeping her eyes fixed on Tan Yi.
Standing behind him, Chi Ying and Song Lin couldn’t help laughing.
Tan Yi laughed awkwardly as well. His face reddened as he answered, “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment. But if I ever do, I hope she’ll be as happy as Tong Xiaole, and I’ll do everything I can to treat her well.”
…
The next several questions also came from female students. They seemed far more enthusiastic than the male audience members.
One beautiful girl directed her question to Song Lin.
“Student Song, as the actress who played Tong Xiaole, do you think Tong Xiaole is actually less courageous than Zheng Wen? She truly loves him, but it feels like her love isn’t quite as deep. Whenever they encounter real-life difficulties, she seems ready to back away. Does she really deserve such a wonderful man?”
Chi Ying lightly nudged Song Lin with her foot.
She knew Song Lin adored Tong Xiaole and considered her the best girl imaginable. The question might feel a little offensive, so Chi Ying was silently reminding her to answer carefully.
Fortunately, Song Lin was perfectly capable of handling herself.
“I think Tong Xiaole absolutely deserves him because she’s a genuinely wonderful girl.”
“She grew up in Beijing, cherished and pampered by her family. She was practically the little princess of the household. She’s kind, sincere, and never pretends to be someone she’s isn’t. That’s exactly the person Zheng Wen falls in love with.”
“She’s spent her whole life surrounded by love.”
“So she gives that same love back to the world. She never wants to hurt the people around her, including her beloved parents and all her friends.”
“When she tells Zheng Wen, ‘Maybe we should break up,’ it’s not because she doesn’t love him. It’s because she believes that if two people truly love each other, they should be happy together. Not only should they be happy, but the people around them should be happy too. If their union only brings pain to everyone else, then it’s not worth it.”
“She simply thinks of others before herself.”
Another hand went up.
This time, it was finally a male student.
“I actually think this is a love story. So why is the focus on the wedding instead of showing how they fell in love? I think watching their romance develop would’ve been beautiful too.”
Chi Ying answered once again.
“First of all, because I’m a woman, I wanted to tell this story from a woman’s perspective.”
“Like you said, this film is about love from beginning to end. It’s love that brings them together and makes them decide to spend the rest of their lives with each other. The wedding at the center of the story isn’t really about marriage itself. More importantly, it’s the greatest test their love has to endure. At its heart, this is still a love story.”
“In real life, love alone isn’t always enough. What I wanted to portray was a warm, grounded love story, one filled with the everyday warmth of ordinary life.”
The audience continued asking questions one after another, though most of them still came from the female viewers.
The atmosphere remained lively and friendly.
It was obvious that the women in attendance genuinely enjoyed the film. Many of them even said they planned to watch it again once it officially opened in theaters.
Just as Chi Ying had anticipated, women were the film’s primary target audience.
If they liked it, then the film had a real chance of succeeding.
That very night, a thread appeared on Beijing Normal University’s BBS that quickly exploded in popularity.
Its title was:
The Girl Who Deserves to Be Loved by the Whole World.
The post discussed the screening.
It didn’t take long before the thread was pushed to the top of the forum. Many of the girls who had attended the screening joined the discussion, sharing their own thoughts. With so many people participating, the thread stayed pinned near the top of the forum for a long time.
Even girls who hadn’t seen the movie became curious after seeing the thread. Once they clicked into it, they were immediately drawn in by its contents.
Both the title and most of the discussion appeared to revolve around the female lead, Tong Xiaole.
Yet by the end of nearly every post, the conversation always circled back to the male lead, Zheng Wen.
To Chi Ying’s surprise, although the entire film centered on its female lead, the first character to become wildly popular was actually the male lead.
…
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