novellhall Chapter 73: The Lively Hehuan Sect
Chapter 73: The Lively Hehuan Sect
a few days later.
Hehuan Film & Television.
Lobby.
Wei Yi finally announced that he would "open the door to visitors".
The night before, Li Hua had the lobby on the first floor redecorated.
The folding chairs were replaced with sofas, several potted plants were placed in the corner, and a sign-in book and a business card holder were placed on the front desk.
He even brought a tea set from home and placed it on the coffee table in the reception area.
Just after nine o'clock in the morning, the first batch of vehicles arrived.
Li Hua stood at the entrance, watching the car logos turn into the parking lot one by one.
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, with license plates from Beijing (京A), Shanghai (沪A), and even a Hong Kong plate.
The business card holder in his hand hadn't been closed since nine o'clock.
"Bona Pictures, Mr. Yu Dong, General Manager."
Yu Dong's assistant handed over his business card first, and Yu Dong himself shook hands with Li Hua. "Director Li, we didn't have time to talk in detail on the phone last time. Director Wei is free today, so I brought a proposal with me."
Li Hua asked the receptionist to lead the people to the meeting area. Just as they were being arranged, another group of people came in through the door.
Wang Zhonglei walked at the front, followed by Li Binbin and Fan Xiaopang.
Li Binbin was dressed in a dark blue suit, while Fan Xiaopang was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and jeans, looking like he was just dropping by.
"Director Li!"
Wang Zhonglei stretched out his hand from afar, "About what we talked about on the phone last time, my brother asked me to bring the plan over today. Oh right, Bingbing and Xiao Zhou happen to be free, so they came over to learn together."
Li Hua shook hands with Wang Zhonglei and glanced at Li Binbin.
Li Binbin smiled slightly at him, her demeanor natural and unpretentious.
"Please come in."
The Orange Fields team arrived shortly after.
Wu Kebo himself did not come; he sent his vice president to lead the team.
The proposal the vice president pulled out of his briefcase was as thick as a magazine, with the Orange Field logo printed on the cover, and the first page showed a distribution network diagram for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
The people from Enlight Media were a step too late and were blocked at the registration area at the entrance.
The production director leading the team handed out business cards while glancing towards the reception area. When he saw that Bona and Orange Field's people had arrived, the smile on his face froze for half a second.
The Emperor's entourage was the most extravagant.
Albert Yeung's deputy brought Xie Tingfeng with him.
When Xie Tingfeng entered, he took off his sunglasses, nodded to Li Hua, and his attitude was neither particularly warm nor arrogant.
The deputy smiled and said, "Mr. Yang said that young people should make more friends. Today we're just here to get acquainted, not to talk business."
Li Hua led the people to the reception area, arranged tea and fruit platters, and then quickly went up to the fifth floor.
Wei Yi sat in the boss's chair, the computer screen in front of him was lit, but the game was not open.
He was looking at a printed list of visitors.
"Is everyone here?" he asked.
"almost."
Li Hua placed the business cards he had just received on the table. "Huayi, Bona, Orange Field, Enlight Media, Emperor Group, they're all here. There are a few smaller companies I didn't let in; I told them to leave their proposals and wait for news."
Wei Yi nodded, stood up, and straightened his collar.
"Let's go. We'll meet them one by one."
The layout of the reception area was specially arranged by Li Hua.
Several sofas were arranged in a semi-circle, spaced neither too far nor too close, just enough to see each other but not to hear what the other was saying.
When Wei Yi came down the stairs, everyone's eyes flickered in that direction.
Yu Dong paused for a moment, his hand holding the teacup still.
Wang Zhonglei's smile grew even warmer.
The vice president of Orange Field opened the first page of the proposal, ready to hand it over at any moment.
Li Binbin sat in the corner of Huayi's group, not moving forward, but quietly watching Wei Yi walk into the reception area.
The first person Wei Yi met was not anyone else.
He walked directly to the sofa in the corner and shook hands with the person sent by China Film Group.
The man was a middle-aged man in his forties, surnamed Li, one of Han Sanping's assistants. He didn't say much throughout the whole thing, sitting in the corner drinking tea.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wei Yi, he whispered, "Chairman Han asked me to come and see if there's anything China Film Group can help with. Mr. Wei, please feel free to ask."
The voice wasn't loud, but Yu Dong heard it. Wang Zhonglei heard it too.
Wei Yizhi stood up and turned to the east.
"Mr. Yu, please go first."
Yu Dong's plan was clean and efficient.
There were no fancy PowerPoint presentations, no dozens of pages of draft contracts, just two pages.
The first page is the investment plan: Bona invests 20 million yuan, accounting for 10% of the shares, and will not interfere with the creative process or demand priority in casting.
The second page is a list of Southeast Asian resources: three co-production companies in Bangkok, a fixed filming location in Chiang Mai, filming locations in Chinatown, and local distribution networks.
"I don't talk nonsense."
Yu Dong pushed two pages of paper in front of Wei Yi. "Bo Na has been in Southeast Asia for ten years, and these channels are readily available. When you go to Thailand to film, you'll need someone familiar with the local area to help you. Money is one thing, and channels are another. If you think it's suitable, we can sign a contract anytime."
Wei Yi read the two pages from beginning to end, then turned back to the first page and stared at the "10%" for a few seconds.
"Mr. Yu, taking 10% of the 20 million is already a concession from you."
Yu Dong smiled and said, "I don't think I lost out."
Wei Yi didn't say anything more, folded the two pages and put them in his pocket.
Wang Zhonglei watched this scene from the side, his smile unchanged, but his hand holding the teacup tightened slightly.
It's Huayi's turn.
Wang Zhonglei's proposal was much thicker than Bo Na's, beautifully bound, and with a gold-stamped cover. The investment proposal: 30 million yuan, 20% share, with Wei Yi able to choose any artist under Huayi Brothers.
These were all standard terms and conditions. But when Wei Yi turned to the last page, his finger stopped on a line of small print.
"If the box office of Wei Yi's films invested in by Huayi reaches a certain number, Huayi will obtain the priority co-investment rights in all of Wei Yi's future works."
Wei Yi read this aloud, then looked up at Wang Zhonglei.
"Mr. Wang, what does this mean?"
Wang Zhonglei's smile remained unchanged: "It means exactly what it says. Huayi is optimistic about Director Wei's long-term development and wants to establish a deeper cooperation with you. This is beneficial to both parties..."
"Delete this one." Wei Yi pushed the proposal back. "We can continue discussing the others."
Wang Zhonglei's smile froze for a moment.
He has led so many projects and met so many directors.
I've never met a young person who dared to so decisively and cleanly push back the Huayi proposal.
"This is indeed something we can discuss further." Wang Zhonglei put the proposal back, his tone still warm, but the smile had faded to the corners of his mouth.
Li Binbin, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up: "Director Wei, I have some ideas about the role in this play. I'd like to discuss it with you when it's convenient."
Wei Yi glanced at her and nodded: "There's a chance."
It's not a rejection, nor is it a yes. It's simply "there's an opportunity."
Li Binbin thought about those four words in his mind and didn't ask any further questions.
He thought to himself that the million he had given to the man surnamed Li had not been wasted.
The vice president of Orange Field is ranked after Huayi.
His proposal focused on Hong Kong and Taiwan resources and the international market, and his price was lower than that of Huayi Gao and Bona, but there were several exclusivity requirements in the terms. Wei Yi glanced at it and put it down.
The light source solution is the thinnest, but the investment amount is not low.
However, the additional conditions repeatedly emphasized that "artists under Enlight Media will be given priority in participating in the performances."
Wei Yi didn't say anything after reading it.
The people at the King's Palace have it the easiest.
Albert Yeung's deputy didn't discuss investment at all; he simply left a letter of intent for cooperation and exchanged a few pleasantries.
Xie Tingfeng stayed a little longer and chatted with Wei Yi about the situation in Hong Kong. Before leaving, he said, "If you need any help, feel free to contact me anytime."
Wei Yi saw the person off and had just returned to the fifth floor when Li Hua followed him up with a pile of business cards.
"These are all the business cards I received today, a total of fifty-seven."
Li Hua spread the business cards on the table, muttering to himself as he sorted them, "Are these people here to discuss collaborations or to audition for talent shows? Why are so many artists showing up on their own?"
Wei Yi picked up one of the business cards, which had the words "Huo Shiyan" printed on it.
"When did she arrive?"
"They came in with Huayi's people, saying they just happened to be passing by."
Li Hua rolled her eyes. "Just passing by? Does she even believe it herself?"
Wei Yi didn't respond to that. His phone rang.
Huang Xiaoming's phone call.
"Director Wei, could you please tell me if there's a suitable role for me in 'Detective Chinatown'?"
Huang Xiaoming's voice was as enthusiastic as ever, "I don't need the payment, I just want to work with you again."
Wang Baoqiang's phone call followed immediately.
"Director Wei! I heard your new movie is about to start filming? Just let me know if you need anything, it's free! 'One Shot' did so well at the box office last time, I still owe you a huge favor!"
Wei Yi hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair.
"Senior brother, give Li Binbin a chance."
"Um?"
"After all, she gave us a million dollars and didn't ask for a salary. It wouldn't be right not to give her a chance. At least give her an audition."
"Huh?" Li Hua exclaimed.
Some time ago, Li Binbin's sister, Li Xue, handed over a bank card with a PIN to Li Hua through someone.
The objective is direct and clear.
But Li Hua wasn't stupid; he knew that Wei Yi's trust in him was his greatest asset.
Turning around, Li Hua told Wei Yi about it.
He even handed the bank card directly to Wei Yi.
Wei Yi didn't want the card, but he didn't tell Li Hua to take it directly either.
"But... won't Xiao Fan have something to say about this?" Li Hua asked.
Wei Yi is currently in Yanjing, either living in the dormitory of Beijing Film Academy, where Mu Tingting usually accompanies him.
Or you could go directly to Fan Binbin's apartment to stay.
They either slept at the company or they slept there; Mu Tingting and Fan Binbin almost took turns doing so.
Outsiders may not know these things, but how could Lao Li not know them?
Mu Tingting is not suitable for the role of A Xiang in the script, but the lovely Fan Xiaopang is quite suitable.
This is why even with a million dollars, Li Hua wouldn't dare to act as a go-between.
Although it hasn't been made public yet, Xiao Fan can be considered half a boss lady.
He'd have to be stupid to offend the landlady.
"It's just giving her a chance, it's not like she's the one getting the role. Don't worry, I'll handle things with Bingbing."
"Alright, but don't say I caused this. Otherwise, Xiao Fan will hate me to death."
"Okay, by the way, senior brother."
"Um?"
"Give Yu Dong a call. He can come over tomorrow morning to sign a contract."
"Huh, it's settled?"
"Um."