Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 218 Proclaiming himself king
"Director Zhang, Daoming, what are you guys talking about? Why are you so interested?"

Mr. Wang's voice arrived before he did.

The two turned their heads and saw Mr. Wang, holding a wine glass and walking towards them with a smile on his face. Behind him, half a step slower, were Li Lianhua and Huang Xiaoming.

"Nothing, we were just talking about Director Zhang's new film, Taken..."

"Oh, I heard that the investment in Taken was over 100 million. Is Director Zhang also planning to make a blockbuster?"

Zhang Chen thought that no matter what else, Huayi’s intelligence work was really thorough.

It had only been a short while since the final version of "Taken" was finalized, and the investment scale had not been announced to the public, but Huayi Brothers already knew about it.

As expected, there is no wall that is impenetrable, and this sentence really applies to the entertainment industry.

"I can't help it. I've already said I'll teach Wu Yusen how to make spy films. Don't I have to show some real skills?"

"Haha, Director Zhang really has the heart of a young man. I'm so envious~" Wang Zhonglei laughed.

After a while, he asked tentatively, "Director Zhang, we at Huayi love making blockbusters. I wonder if we have a chance to star in Director Zhang's "Taken"..."

Li Lianhua next to him immediately took over the conversation: "Yes, Director Zhang, please consider me sometime. I've been waiting so long to work with Director Zhang that the flowers are almost withered..."

Zhang Chen understood and realized that Li Lianhua was reminding him that he couldn't go in vain.

I quickly apologized: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, the female role in this play is really not suitable for your image. Next time, I will definitely look for you if I have the chance..."

After using the blank check to appease Li Lianhua, Zhang Chen said again: "Mr. Wang, I would like to ask you to help play a cameo role..."

"Me?" Wang Zhonglei was also a little surprised.

Zhang Chen nodded: "There is a rich man role in the play. I think Mr. Wang is very suitable for the role. It matches your temperament very well. I wonder if Mr. Wang is interested in playing a role. It can be regarded as a true performance."

Zhang Chen told Wang Zhonglei about the role of the protagonist's daughter's adoptive father, a wealthy man.

He also thought of it at the last minute. To be honest, he and Wang Zhonglei really match in temperament.

If Wang Zhonglei played the role, he wouldn't have to worry about being out of character at all, he just had to play himself.

Wang Zhonglei originally wanted to ask about investment, but he didn't expect Zhang Chen to ask him to make a cameo appearance in a movie. He was a little surprised for a moment.

"Am I...suitable?"

"It's suitable, of course it's suitable, why don't we just leave it at that? It won't take up Mr. Wang's time, so just treat it as a hobby."

Wang Zhonglei naturally nodded in agreement. This could be considered a way to make friends with Zhang Chen.

Huang Xiaoming watched everyone chatting nearby but couldn't get a word in. Especially when he learned that Zhang Chen's new film "Taken" was a billion-dollar production, he became even more eager.

But he didn't know Zhang Chen, so he didn't want to speak rashly.

Wang Zhonglei, who was standing next to him, was a smart guy. He had noticed Huang Xiaoming's expression a long time ago. Huang Xiaoming was the one that Huayi was focusing on trying to win over recently, so he couldn't help but speak up for him:
"Director Zhang, I have another unwelcome request. I wonder if there is a role in your movie that is suitable for our Xiao Ming. I would like to get one for him. The amount of the role does not matter. I just want to make a good relationship with Director Zhang..."

Wang Zhonglei was very good at speaking, and Huang Xiaoming nodded generously beside him: "Yes, Director Zhang, I have wanted to work with you for a long time, but I never had the chance..."

Of course Zhang Chen was happy to do the favor. He had originally planned to invite Huang Xiaoming, and now that Wang Zhonglei had proposed it, it was equivalent to doing him a favor for free.

"Since Mr. Wang said so, there is indeed a handsome guy in the supporting role. He doesn't have many scenes, but he is very important in the early stage. Why don't you give it a try, Xiao Ming..."

"Thank you Director Zhang for your appreciation." Huang Xiaoming didn't expect that he would get a supporting role just by mentioning it.

In fact, it doesn’t matter whether he is a supporting role or not, the main thing is that he has a relationship with Zhang Chen.

He has studied Zhang Chen. Since his debut, he has starred in movies with female protagonists, and female characters are the absolute protagonists in his movies.

But this time, "Taken" seems to be different. It has become a regular movie with men as the absolute protagonists.

This means that his future films may also follow this pattern, so it is necessary to have a good relationship with him.

Huang Xiaoming is very good at scheming, so he has very good relationships with many bigwigs. This is also the reason why he can always be active on the big screen despite his average acting skills.

Huang Xiaoming and Wang Zhonglei were very happy after getting the role. Only Li Lianhua felt a little jealous, but since Zhang Chen had just said that, she couldn't do anything about it.

She was wondering whether she should strengthen the impression she left in Zhang Chen's mind.

Wang Zhonglei was actually quite surprised that Zhang Chen gave him so much face, because Zhang Chen used to be very hard to talk to.

But no matter what the reason was, he just wanted to gain as much benefit as possible while Zhang Chen was in a good mood today.

"Director Zhang, I wonder if Huayi can also participate in the investment of Taken?"

This time he just said it clearly.

Zhang Chen pretended to hesitate, then said: "We haven't decided on the specific shares yet. Let's do this. In a few days, I will call all the interested investors together and we can discuss it together..."

"That's great. I'll wait for your call."

Zhang Chen's words mean that they can enter the market, the only difference is the size of the market share. It is obvious that state-owned companies such as China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group and cinema chains will account for the majority of the market share, and private companies like them can only follow behind and eat soup.

But soup is also good.

"Oh, by the way, there's one more thing I need to trouble Mr. Wang. I heard that Sister Hua and Mr. Wang and Mr. Wang are having a bad time, so I want to be a lobbyist and help mediate.

The film and television industry is so small that we all know each other everywhere. It is always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.

Besides, Sister Hua was bewitched by Cheng Tian before, but now she has broken up with Cheng Tian and is ready to do it on her own. She is completely neutral, so there is still a chance for us to cooperate~"

When Zhang Chen said this, Wang Zhonglei always had a smile on his face.

He didn't know why Zhang Chen wanted to take care of this matter, but the conflict between Huayi and Wang Jinghua was nothing compared to today's gains. Since Zhang Chen wanted to take care of it, he was happy to return the favor.

"Director Zhang, what are you talking about? My eldest brother and I have always admired Sister Hua. What we had before was just some minor conflicts over the company's business direction. It's nothing."

"I feel relieved now that Mr. Wang said that. I'll contact Sister Hua later and we can have dinner together."

Zhang Chen didn't do this to be a pushover.

Since he has decided to invest in Wang Jinghua, he certainly hopes that Wang Jinghua's side will prosper. If Wang Jinghua is doing well, he will be well too.

……

A few days later, Fan Binbin Studio
The assistant rushed into the office in a hurry: "Sister, Wang Jinghua has issued a statement~"

Behind the desk, Sister Jiuyi, who was lying in the boss chair, rolled her eyes unhappily: "Haven't we known for a long time that Sister Hua would definitely leave Huayi and join Chengtian..."

"No, that's not the case..."

"Hmm?" Sister Jiuyi sat up straight.

"Sina headlines, take a look for yourself~" the assistant said anxiously.

Sister Jiuyi opened her laptop, entered the address of Sina.com, and then saw the top news.

"According to the latest news obtained by this newspaper: Wang Jinghua, president of Huayi Entertainment, has resigned and is preparing to set up his own agency, called 'Shijiu Culture'.

Stars such as Chen Daoming, Xia Yu, Hu Jun, Tong Dawei, Ren Quan, as well as Yang Ziqiong, Guan Zhilin, Liu Jialing, and Wu Junru will all leave, and Huayi may become an 'empty city'..."

"According to insider information, the investor of Wang Jinghua's new company, 'Shijiu Culture', is Li Zhaohui, the steel tycoon of the coal province. It is said that the company Xingchen Entertainment, the company of the famous director Zhang Chen, also holds shares in it..."

"Wang Jinghua personally admitted that her artists will be deeply connected with director Zhang Chen's new film "Taken", and many artists will play important roles in it..."

"It is reported that the leading male and female actors of Zhang Chen's new film "Taken" have been confirmed. They will be played by Liang Jiahui and Xu Qing from "Shijiu Culture" respectively. Actors such as Chen Daoming and Zhang Jin will also make guest appearances..."

That’s right, after getting Zhang Chen’s permission, Wang Jinghua simply signed Zhang Jin as well.

"Zhang Chen got involved in Wang Jinghua's company?

Forget it, forget about that, Xiao Chen, let’s send it too~”

Ten minutes later, the headline on Tencent changed.

"Fan Binbin left Huayi and formally established the first personal studio in China with the help of Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen personally holds 30% of the shares..."

My goodness, Fan Binbin has also left Huayi, so doesn’t that mean Huayi is empty?

Some people couldn't help but gloat over their misfortune, but others noticed that after leaving Huayi, Wang Jinghua and Fan Binbin both accepted Zhang Chen's investment, or in other words, it was Zhang Chen who encouraged them to leave?
All of a sudden, all kinds of speculations appeared on paper and on the Internet.

Is Zhang Chen going to go to war with Huayi Brothers?
Huayi Brothers has been deserted by its friends and now is at odds with Zhang Chen. What will be its future?
Netizens have the most fertile imagination, and within a short period of time, several versions of the story emerged.

What about Zhang Chen and Wang Zhonglei fighting over Fan Binbin and Zhang Chen instigating Wang Jinghua to change jobs in anger...

"Shouldn't we do something?" Dong Jianqiang asked in the office.

"What to do? We don't have to do anything, just watch the show." Zhang Chen was watching with great interest, he felt like someone else was writing his life.

Just when people were speculating, Huayi suddenly issued a statement.

"Wang Jinghua's departure is only due to the conflict of ideas between the two parties on company management. Her temporary departure will not hinder subsequent cooperation.

In addition, Huayi Brothers has successfully signed a contract with director Zhang Jizhong to completely fill its shortcomings in the field of TV dramas.

At the same time, Huayi Brothers has confirmed that it will participate in the investment of "Taken" directed by Zhang Chen..."

Three consecutive pieces of news directly shocked the crowd of onlookers.

What's the situation?
Didn’t they say that Zhang Chen and Huayi had a falling out? How come Huayi invested in Zhang Chen’s new film? Was there really such a falling out?
In addition, Huayi signed Zhang Da Huzi, who is currently the most popular TV drama director.

Moreover, the situation between her and Wang Jinghua was not as rumored by the outside world. Wang Jinghua responded that there was no conflict between her and Huayi, it was just that the contract had expired.

Half a month later, "Taken" officially started filming in Hong Kong.

(End of this chapter)