1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Title: Home Alone

Genre: Comedy, Family
Synopsis: An eight-year-old troublemaker is unexpectedly left behind at home while his family flies to Paris for Christmas. He must use a series of clever and hilarious traps to defend his home against two clumsy thieves.

Gu Qiuna's hands trembled slightly as she held the script!

If Die Hard is a standard hardcore action movie formula, then Home Alone is a typical holiday family comedy full of whimsy and heartwarming laughs!

This kind of subject matter is a perennial favorite in Hollywood, especially during the Christmas season, where it's practically a box office guarantee!

The core concept of this story—a child left at home outsmarting a bumbling thief—is simple, fun, and highly visual and comedic.

Its enormous commercial potential is almost immediately apparent!
Two scripts!

Two very different English film scripts, both perfectly capturing the pulse of Hollywood's best-selling genres!

Gu Qiuna raised her head and looked at Cheng Xuemin, her eyes filled with extreme shock, disbelief, and a kind of ecstatic joy as if she had discovered a huge treasure!

She originally worked in the arts and culture magazine industry in the United States, and now she's helping her nephew-in-law, Cheng Xuemin, to develop the North American theatrical film market.

They are extremely familiar with Hollywood's operating model and market tastes!
Therefore, Gu Qiuna knew all too well what two mature, novel, and highly marketable scripts meant in Hollywood!
Especially now!
Cheng Xuemin just won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and his personal reputation and international attention have reached their peak!

His name itself is a golden brand, a synonym for Eastern miracles and quality assurance!

If these two scripts are labeled as original stories by Cheng Xuemin, and then pushed to Hollywood by her aunt who has American connections and channels!
Its value will absolutely skyrocket exponentially!

"Xuemin... these... these two scripts, you wrote them?"

Gu Qiuna's voice trembled with excitement as she clutched the stack of manuscript papers as if she were holding two gold mines.

Although Feng Jiazhao didn't understand English, he could guess most of what was going on from his aunt's reaction, and his face showed surprise and admiration.

My brother-in-law's brain is absolutely amazing!

Making movies can win the world's highest awards, gambling can win four hundred million US dollars, and writing an English script casually can make my aunt so excited?

Cheng Xuemin picked up his coffee, took a small sip, nodded, and said in a flat tone, "Yes, I wrote this casually during my free time these past few days!"

"The main reason is that we feel that if we want to open up the international market, relying on just one film like 'Redemption' and our previous films like 'Shaolin Temple' and 'Tai Chi' might not be enough!"

"We need more diverse content, and we also need a deeper understanding of Hollywood's narrative style and audience tastes. Writing these two scripts is an experiment, and also a chance to practice my English!"

Just something I jotted down, to practice my English!

Gu Qiuna and Feng Jiazhao exchanged a glance, both seeing the same speechlessness and shock in each other's eyes.

A casually written script could be two mature commercial scripts that would be highly sought after by producers in Hollywood.
This is terrifying!
"Xuemin, you really are..." Gu Qiuna took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but she couldn't hide the light in her eyes as she excitedly said, "You are truly amazing!"

"These two scripts, especially 'Home Alone,' are incredibly creative! The pacing, humor, and character development are exactly what Hollywood loves!"

"Die Hard is another example. Tough guys, lone heroes, and confrontations in confined spaces are definitely classic action movie formulas, but your Christmas office building setting and terrorist concept are quite innovative!"

"These two notebooks, if handled properly, could definitely fetch an astronomical price!"

Cheng Xuemin smiled and said, "I'm glad it meets my aunt's approval. I'm not familiar with the Hollywood market and its operations, so I'd like to ask my aunt to take these two scripts back to the United States to see if there are any suitable buyers or partners!"

"As for the price, Auntie, you're the professional, so you can handle everything. My requirements aren't high; I just want it sold. As for the profit..."

He paused, looked at Gu Qiuna, and said sincerely, "How much these two scripts can sell depends entirely on Auntie's abilities!"

"After deducting necessary costs, you, Auntie, will take 20% of the proceeds from the sale of the manuscript or subsequent adaptation rights as a service fee and commission. The rest can be transferred to the account I just opened in Hong Kong!"

"Twenty percent?!" Gu Qiuna was shocked again, and quickly waved her hand, "No, no! That's too much!"

“Xuemin, you wrote the script, you created the idea, and you created the value! I just helped connect people and run errands, how could I possibly get so much?”

"According to industry practice, I only need to take 10%, no, 5% as an agency fee!"

“Auntie, please don’t refuse!” Cheng Xuemin’s tone was gentle, but with an unyielding firmness. “In America, we’re unfamiliar with the place and the people, and there are many things that you’ll need to take care of, mediate, and negotiate!”

"Twenty percent is what you deserve. Besides, there might be more collaborations in the future. I need someone I can trust and who is capable in the US. Auntie, you are the most suitable candidate!"

That's a well-chosen statement; it offers tangible benefits while also expressing trust and long-term expectations.

Gu Qiuna felt a warm glow in her heart upon hearing this; she was both touched and excited!

Her nephew-in-law is not only exceptionally capable and generous, but also remarkably thoughtful and sincere in his dealings with others!
"Xuemin..." Gu Qiuna's eyes were a little red. She nodded vigorously, "Okay! Auntie won't stand on ceremony with you!"

"These two copies, your aunt will definitely help you sell them for a good price! No, a sky-high price! Just based on your name, Cheng Xuemin, you're worth that much in Hollywood!"

"Don't worry, I'll contact Columbia, Fox, and Disney as soon as I get back. I'll make sure to create enough buzz to get them bidding against me!"

She could almost see countless US dollars beckoning to her, no, to both her and Xuemin!

An original, well-developed Hollywood-style commercial script by a Palme d'Or winner—that's a huge gimmick!

If managed well, selling each notebook for hundreds of thousands or even millions of US dollars is not a dream at all!
Even 20% is a huge sum of money!

More importantly, through this successful agency, her status and influence in the Hollywood Chinese community and even the mainstream film production industry will rise significantly!
The intangible value of this is immeasurable!

"Then I'll leave it to you, Auntie," Cheng Xuemin said with a smile, raising his coffee cup in a toast instead of drinking alcohol.

Gu Qiuna quickly picked up her coffee cup and solemnly returned the toast. They exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.
Feng Jiazhao watched from the side, feeling very happy for his sister and for Cheng Xuemin!

He increasingly felt that his brother-in-law was a bottomless treasure trove; you never knew what surprise he would pull out next!

"Oh, right, Xuemin!" Gu Qiuna put down her coffee cup, suddenly remembering something, and asked seriously:

"How do you plan to handle the credits for these two scripts? Will you use your real name, Cheng Xuemin, or your English name? Or... a pen name?"

This is a very practical question!
Using your real name allows you to leverage the Palme d'Or winner's aura to the fullest, but the price will be high, and it may attract additional attention and scrutiny. Using a pseudonym might be more flexible, but the halo effect will be diminished.
After a moment's thought, Cheng Xuemin made his decision: "Use my real name, Cheng Xuemin. That's the effect we want!"

"Let Hollywood know that Chinese people can not only make artistic masterpieces like 'Redemption,' but also write top-notch commercial scripts that suit their market tastes. This in itself is a demonstration of culture and strength."

He paused, then added, "However, in the specific negotiations, my aunt can decide based on the situation."

Gu Qiuna took notes carefully and nodded repeatedly: "I understand! Don't worry, I know how to do it!"

"We need to leverage existing momentum, but also let people see the real stuff! Xuemin, you've thought this through so thoroughly!"

With the matter settled, the atmosphere in the living room became even more relaxed and pleasant.

Gu Qiuna carefully put the two original scripts into her designer handbag, as if she were holding priceless treasures.

She can't wait to fly back to New York and get things started.

"Xuemin, shall I book a flight back to New York for tomorrow?" Gu Qiuna asked.

“Yes, Auntie!” Cheng Xuemin nodded and said, “We might even fly to Yanjing tomorrow!”

"But before I go back, I have a performance to do, which involves negotiating the rights to 'Redemption.' Auntie, if you're interested, you can stay and watch. It might be helpful when you're negotiating script prices in the US!"

Gu Qiuna nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, saying, "Global copyright negotiations for 'Redemption'? I definitely want to stay and watch! This is a truly grand event; I can learn so much from it!"

She had automatically put herself into the role of a member of Cheng Xuemin's international business team!

As they were talking, there was a gentle knock on the suite door. Feng Jiayou went to open it, and it was Fu Qi.

With excitement and a hint of nervousness on his face, Fu Qi walked in and said to Cheng Xuemin, "Xuemin, I just received news that Brian, along with representatives from 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Columbia Pictures, have all arrived in Hong Kong and checked into their hotels!"

"They all contacted me, either through the hotel reception or by phone, hoping to arrange a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the global distribution of 'Redemption.' You see..."

Cheng Xuemin glanced at the clock on the wall; it was exactly 10:00 AM.

He smiled slightly, calm and composed!

"Mr. Fu, please tell them that I will be waiting for them at 3 PM in the hotel's small banquet hall!"

Fu Qi perked up: "Understood! I'll arrange it right away!"

The sharks, having smelled the blood, have all swum over.

2:55 p.m., the small banquet hall on the hotel's executive floor.

The heavy, deep red velvet curtains were fully drawn back, and the afternoon sunlight poured in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the long conference table covered with a snow-white tablecloth.

The air was filled with the hotel's unique, subtle fragrance, mixed with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee!
On one side of the conference table, Cheng Xuemin sat alone in the main seat.

He changed into a well-tailored dark gray suit, with a crisp white shirt underneath and a dark blue tie. His hair was neatly combed, and his face showed no signs of fatigue from the journey, only a calm and composed demeanor.

A black leather notebook lay open in front of him, with a rather ordinary-looking fountain pen beside it, and nothing else.

Fu Qi, Huang Jianzhong, Gu Qiuna, and Feng Jiazhao sat on a row of chairs against the wall behind Cheng Xuemin, as if they were observing from the sidelines!

Xiao Yang and Xiao Zhou did not enter the conference room. Instead, they stood solemnly on either side of the closed conference room door, like two guardian deities.

Jet Li stood guard at a corner of the corridor not far away, his eyes scanning warily for anyone who approached.

2:58!

The sound of hurried, somewhat rapid footsteps approaching from afar echoed down the corridor, interspersed with low, distinct English conversations in different accents.

There was a polite knock on the door three times, and then a hotel account manager pushed open the heavy oak door, bowed slightly, and said in a standard and respectful tone, "Mr. Cheng, your guest has arrived."

As soon as he finished speaking, the group filed in.

Leading the way was Brian, an old acquaintance of Cheng Xuemin and an independent film distributor in the United States.

He was clearly dressed up today, with his hair slicked back, wearing an expensive Italian handmade suit, shiny leather shoes, and a warm, slightly exaggerated smile on his face.

Upon entering, my eyes were immediately drawn to Cheng Xuemin, who was seated at the head of the table, and I stretched out my hands from afar:
"Cheng! My dear friend! It's so good to see you again! The sunshine in Hong Kong can't compare to your radiance right now!"

Following closely behind him were three men with different temperaments, but all equally powerful auras.

One was a tall, white-haired old man with a typical Saxon face and sharp, eagle-like eyes.

He is Carrick, Senior Vice President of International Distribution at 20th Century Fox.

One was a refined middle-aged man of medium build, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who looked more like a university professor than a film company executive. He was Michael Chen, Warner Bros. Pictures' Special Representative for Asia!

Another was a slightly overweight, smiling, but bald man with shrewd and calculating eyes, Rosenthal, the head of Columbia Pictures' international acquisitions department.

These three represent the three Hollywood studios that place the greatest emphasis on the international market, especially the Asian market.

Almost immediately after Cheng Xuemin boarded his flight back to Hong Kong and announced his intention to negotiate the global distribution rights for "Redemption" there, they booked the fastest flight to catch up with him.

The glory of the Palme d'Or, the legendary status and explosive buzz brought by the $400 million bet, have made the value of "Redemption" far exceed the commercial scope of an ordinary art film in their eyes.

This is a gold mine waiting to be tapped, and an excellent target that can greatly enhance the company's reputation and industry influence!
After the three of them, seven or eight more people came in one after another!
It includes Hong Kong film moguls such as Mona Fong, the housekeeper of Shaw Brothers, Raymond Chow of Golden Harvest, and Raymond Lui of Golden Princess.

Of course, they came here at Cheng Xuemin's behest, so that they could broaden their horizons!
After all, so far, these three top Hong Kong film companies have not yet opened up overseas markets, let alone made a significant profit from the overseas US dollar market.

So I was really curious and wanted to come and see for myself!
Cheng Xuemin also wanted to teach them how he made a fortune in US dollars and foreign exchange!
……

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