novellhall Chapter 68: New Plays and New Projects
Chapter 68: New Plays and New Projects
Yanjing.
Outside the East Third Ring Road.
Next to Chaoyang Park.
Hehuan Film and Television, fifth-floor office.
The office faces south, and the window faces the woods in Chaoyang Park that haven't yet turned green.
Sunlight streamed in and fell on the bare concrete floor, which was uncarpeted.
Wei Yi sat in a boss's chair he had picked up from a bankrupt game company, with a cup of instant coffee in front of him.
The five-story building had its sign hung up yesterday, and it officially opened for business today.
The whole building was still in a mess. The folding chairs in the lobby on the first floor hadn't been put away yet, and the cubicles on the second and third floors were empty without a single table. There were a few old sofas on the fourth floor, but they hadn't been tidied up yet either.
The company currently has only a handful of employees.
The front desk staff couldn't find a replacement, and they didn't hire any cleaning staff either.
Yang Mi volunteered to help with the cleaning, saying that the four of them from her dormitory would take turns.
Mu Tingting led Zhang Jiani to clean the windows of several offices on the second floor.
The two of them were squatting at the end of the corridor washing a mop.
Li Hua sat opposite Wei Yi, holding a thick stack of folders in his hand.
All of these project proposals came from people who offered them on their own initiative after the huge success of "One Shot".
There are scripts, investment plans, and collaboration offers, ranging from urban romance to period martial arts films.
From low-budget productions of three million to big-budget productions of eighty million, they have it all.
"Junior brother."
Li Hua slammed the stack of folders onto the table with a dull thud. "You're the current record holder for domestic film box office. So many people are lining up to be chosen by you, and you're not even looking at a single one?"
Wei Yi didn't look up.
He finished his instant coffee and put the empty cup on the corner of the table.
Then he pulled out a script outline from the drawer.
It's just a few thin pages, with two words on the cover, handwritten in pen with a strong stroke.
Detective Chinatown.
Li Hua paused for a moment, then took the book and turned to the first page.
Qin Feng. Early forty years old. Former criminal police officer.
He resigned in anger because of a long-suppressed old case. His wife had divorced him years ago and taken their child. He was all alone. He went to Bangkok, Thailand for a vacation to clear his mind and stayed with his distant cousin, Tang Ren.
Tang Ren. In his early twenties. From eastern Guangdong. He calls himself "Chinatown's Number One Detective".
In reality, he's a street hustler who helps people find their cats and dogs and occasionally runs errands for tourists by making fake documents.
An uncle and nephew become embroiled in a bizarre murder case.
Qin Feng is forced to dig up his old criminal investigation secrets again, and Tang Ren's street smarts work in his favor by accident. The two go from disliking each other to being forced to join forces.
Li Hua sat up straight after watching the first scene:
"The character Qin Feng—the male lead is a disillusioned middle-aged policeman in his forties? This must be a commercial film, right? Aren't the male leads in commercial films supposed to be as handsome and young as possible?"
"Who told you Qin Feng is the male lead?"
Wei Yi leaned back in his chair, his tone flat. "This play is a 'two dragons' play. There's no distinction between a male lead and a second male lead; the two characters complement each other. For comedic effect, one must be handsome and the other ugly, one middle-aged and the other young, one capable but introverted and stuttering, and the other cunning but lucky."
"How much should I invest?"
"It will cost at least 50 million, and possibly even over 100 million."
"How many?!"
Li Hua jumped up from the folding chair. "The One Shot only cost two million! This one cost that much?"
Wei Yi replied in his usual unhurried tone.
He picked up the empty cup and placed it in front of Li Hua. "There's no more coffee."
Li Hua rolled his eyes in anger, grabbed his cup and was about to go out to refill it when a voice suddenly rang out at the door.
"What's gone?"
The two of them turned around at the same time.
Tian Erzhuang stood at the door, wearing a dark gray jacket and carrying a thermos.
Standing next to him was Han Sanping, his suit jacket open, looking like an old man nearing retirement.
"What do you mean, so many?" Han Sanping stepped in, his gaze sweeping over the two men before finally settling on the script outline on the desk.
Li Hua glanced at Wei Yi, hesitated, and didn't speak.
"My senior brother thinks my new movie investment is a bit too big," Wei Yi said, standing up to offer his seats to the two men.
"A new movie?"
"Large investment?"
Han Sanping's eyes immediately lit up.
He has been highly praised by his superiors several times in the past few months for his investment in "One Shot".
With an investment of one million, not to mention the tens of millions in profits.
The key point is that it broke the record of that big ship, giving Chinese films a real boost.
He gained fame, he gained wealth, and his political achievements were truly substantial.
Now I hear that Wei Yi is going to shoot a new film.
It's still the kind of investment that's "too much".
Han Sanping hadn't even settled into his seat before he spoke:
"Since I've happened to be here, let's put this out there. Wei Yi, no matter how much investment you want, China Film Group will take at least half."
Wei Yi remained silent for a moment.
It's not about playing dumb. It's about genuinely calculating.
This time it's not two million, it's starting at fifty million.
Note that this is the beginning.
Although he received over 70 million from the box office, that was before taxes.
Although there are various ways to avoid taxes, one should consider their future reputation and how government departments perceive them.
He didn't want to go too far in tax avoidance.
He has consulted lawyers and accounting firms.
If we don't use any tricks, then this 70 million, after tax, will at most amount to 60 million or a few million, and even if we put it all in, it might not be enough.
Moreover, movies have a long payback period, and if the cash flow stops in the middle, it's all over.
"We'll discuss the share later." He nodded. "But even if Third Master doesn't ask, I'll still reserve a share for China Film Group."
These words were spoken sincerely, without the slightest hint of politeness.
His most admired person was his teacher.
He always regarded his teacher's saying, "Make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible," as his motto for doing business.
No matter what kind of business it is, if you want to grow it, you have to be willing to share the profits.
Especially in the entertainment industry, a place where there are many troublemakers and a lot of scoundrels.
Even if you grow into the biggest behemoth in the industry, China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group are still insurmountable obstacles.
They have the nation behind them.
Moreover, he's only just getting started.
We must concede the benefits that are due, and we must make the friends we deserve.
With the foundation laid by "One Shot," it's only natural for China Film Group to collaborate again.
"Third Master, let's look at the script first." Wei Yi nodded to Li Hua.
Li Hua quickly handed the script outline in his hand to the two big shots.
Han Sanping took it, put on his reading glasses, turned to the first page, and remained silent.
Tian Erzhuang came over, and the two of them turned the pages one by one by the light of the office fluorescent lamp.
It was at this moment.
Suddenly, a "ding" sounded in Wei Yi's mind.
The silly system is back in action.
The system panel spreads across the retina.
[Sect's First Battle - Triumph in a Foreign Land]
[Detection indicates the host is about to lead their first expedition overseas. Mission requirements: Complete the alien conquest (the film crew will complete filming and release the movie in an alien realm) and achieve results no less than the previous Golden Core level Heavenly Tribulation (the box office and critical acclaim of "One Shot").]
[Mission Rewards: Sect level automatically increases by one. Branch Altar System unlocked. After joining the Branch Altar System, the host's sect's training grounds can expand to a third location.]
[Task deadline: Within 30 days of the film's release.]
Overseas conquests. Branch forum system.
Wei Yi stared at the line of gold text on the panel for several seconds.
Han Sanping's voice rang out abruptly, firm and resolute, "China Film Group has invested in this script!"