A grand historical fantasy blockbuster is coming.

As the Spring Festival approaches, the film “Mingcheng Strategy: Subduing the River Demon” has been officially scheduled for release during the winter vacation. The movie is a joint production of Huan Yi Film & Media Culture (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., the Publicity Department of the Qinhuai District Committee of the Communist Party of China in Nanjing, Nanjing Confucius Temple Cultural Tourism Group Co., Ltd., Beijing Jiaqi Film Co., Ltd., Chi Yu Media Culture (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Hunan Dingshi Film & Media Culture Co., Ltd., and Nanjing Kucolor Digital Technology Co., Ltd. Zhang Zhihong serves as the director, while Zhou Xuebin is the executive producer. With these industry-leading companies joining forces, the project aims to deliver a high‑quality work that will delight audiences.

Story Summary

The film primarily recounts the story of Shen Wansan, the wealthiest man of the Ming Dynasty, who oversaw the construction of Jubao Gate, highlighting the admirable virtues of benevolence, diligence, and courage embodied by figures like Shen Wansan, while also underscoring the historical significance of the Nanjing Ming City Wall project.

Moreover, the film’s greatest strength lies in its bold experimentation during production—blending the suspense‑thriller genre with monster‑movie elements. By juxtaposing a “mystery‑solving” arc with a “monster‑battling” storyline, it plunges viewers into an eerily fantastical and perilous world.

The Power of the Film and Television Magician

The Zhu brothers participated in the entire post-production process of “Ming City Strategy: Subduing the River Demon.” During post-production, the sound team employed advanced techniques to recreate the film’s dynamic shifts. According to legend, the Taotie is one of the Four Great Fierce Beasts of ancient times and a character steeped in mythological lore. Consequently, the sound designers undertook numerous experiments, ultimately blending sounds from a variety of animals so that even with their eyes closed, viewers can vividly sense the visual world unfolding on screen.

The colorist is like a magician of the image; post‑production color grading serves as both a continuation and a complement to the initial shoot. The entire film adopts a gray‑blue tonal palette, deliberately chosen to heighten its suspenseful, fantastical undertones and evoke a sense of tension.

The use of color grading in film possesses a distinctive allure; certain scenes that juxtapose cool and warm tones subtly foreshadow the story’s twists. In the stillness of the night, vibrant fireworks bloom, heralding an unexpected turn at the end. Color as a visual language is powerfully persuasive, and careful consideration in the color‑grading process can make each frame all the more compelling.

The film primarily conveys a spirit of striving and self-improvement, reminding us that all wealth is earned through hard work and the sweat of one’s brow. The Ming Dynasty city wall stands as both a symbol of historical progress and a testament to the past; safeguarding it means preserving the great Chinese civilization.

With its gripping plot and vivid characters complemented by dazzling special effects, “The Ming City Strategy: Subduing the River Demon” is sure to deliver plenty of surprises. Tune in to Tencent Video on February 1st and let’s make the long winter break even more memorable together.