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

Carrick looked at the range of "$20M-$35M" in North America on the document, and then remembered the twenty-two million he had just quoted. His face turned somewhat grim.
His price falls right in the lower-middle range of the other party's price range!
This guy already knew everything about me!
Rosenthal quickly calculated the total price if he could take over North America, Latin America, and part of Europe. A slight sweat appeared on his forehead!

This is an astronomical figure, and the subsequent investment will be enormous!

But looking at the two menacing rivals beside him, can he back down?
In the audience, Fang Yihua, Zou Wenhuai, and Lei Juekun stared at the glaring $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 after the Asia-Pacific region on the document, and the fact that it did not include mainland China, and their hearts were in turmoil!

Five million to ten million US dollars!

This is just the minimum guarantee for the East Asia region; it doesn't even include revenue sharing!
This doesn't even include the local Hong Kong and Kinmen markets, which they are most familiar with and have enormous potential!

If we could get this piece...

Raymond Chow felt his palms sweating!

His previous feelings towards Cheng Xuemin were complicated; he admired him somewhat, but was more wary and resentful.

But now, looking at that extremely calm partitioning plan, and seeing those Hollywood giants being led by the nose by the other party, he felt frustrated and had to re-evaluate his own bargaining chips.

A chill, mixed with an irrepressible excitement, suddenly shot up my spine.

This guy isn't just a dragon crossing the river; he's going to redefine the rules of the underworld!

Lei Juekun was filled with deep regret.

Should we side with the Golden Horse Awards?

Boycott mainlanders and leftists?

Going against someone like that? Did he lose his mind before?!
Look at what they're talking about.
It's a business worth millions, tens of millions of US dollars! It's about dividing up the global market!
He was still fighting tooth and nail with people over a few million Hong Kong dollars in box office revenue in Hong Kong...

The difference is like night and day!

Fang Yihua remained relatively calm, but the fingers gripping the edge of the document tightened slightly until they turned white.

Shaw Brothers has been on a serious downward spiral in the past two years. After its $30 million investment in Hollywood in early 2017 went down the drain, it has been in a complete slump ever since!
Fortunately, the release of Cheng Xuemin's "Tai Chi" and "Shaolin Temple" in succession brought them a significant recovery from the rental income and box office revenue.

Otherwise, Shaw Brothers would inevitably be crushed by Golden Harvest and Golden Princess!

So now!
If we could get on Cheng Xuemin's bandwagon and collaborate deeply with him, even if it was just handling distribution in Greater China or co-producing...

That would be a golden opportunity for Shaw Brothers to return to its peak!

Whatever stance the Golden Horse Awards take, it has to step aside when faced with huge, tangible benefits and the future!

Moreover, Shaw Brothers has never been particularly fond of the Golden Horse Awards; they've always been closer to the Great Wall Films, which are associated with Lao Zuo.

With this connection, there shouldn't be any trouble getting on Cheng Xuemin's fast track!

Cheng Xuemin took in everyone's reactions. He stopped talking, poured himself half a glass of water, and drank it slowly.

The sunlight shifted to his profile, outlining a clear and serene contour.

He held the initiative in the negotiations from beginning to end.

All he has to do now is wait!

Wait for these sharks to follow the path he has drawn and begin a new round of involution, perhaps even more intense and more in line with his interests.

A long silence fell over the meeting room!

The only sounds were the rustling of documents turning and increasingly distinct, heavy, and uneven breathing sounds coming from different directions.

Carrick slammed the folder shut, looked up, stared at Cheng Xuemin, and said with a sharp, piercing gaze:
"Mr. Cheng, for the North American region, Fox's final offer: a minimum of $25 million, with a 42% cut!"

"Additional clause: Fox has the right of first refusal to negotiate the distribution rights in Western Europe, under the same conditions. This is the highest level of sincerity we can offer!"

He directly increased the price by three million and even tried to tie himself to Europe!

Michael Chen spoke almost simultaneously, his pace quickening: "Warner, a guaranteed $25.5 million in North America, with a 43.5% cut!"

"In addition to the priority of joint distribution in the Asian region, we can bring in Golden Harvest as a local partner!"

"At the same time, the terms of the five-year priority cooperation memorandum remain unchanged, and a box office performance guarantee clause can be added to ensure that the global box office of 'Redemption' is no less than..."

Rosenthal slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming: "Columbia! Twenty-five million in North America! Exclusive to Latin America, we'll do it separately!"

"The equity swap ratio can be increased to 35%! Mr. Cheng, we sincerely want to be your friend and make big money together!"

Brian was so anxious that his face turned red. He tried to interject several times, but found that his own bargaining chips were so pale and powerless under the bombardment of the three giants!
He could only look at Cheng Xuemin in despair, hoping that the other party would remember some past favors!
In the audience, Raymond Chow heard Michael Chan mention bringing in Golden Harvest as a local partner.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she sat up straight instantly, looking at Cheng Xuemin with eager eyes!

Fang Yihua's expression darkened slightly. She glanced at Raymond Chow and pursed her lips.

Lei Juekun's face turned ashen. He knew that he, the Golden Princess, probably didn't even have the qualifications to enter the competition!
Cheng Xuemin smiled as he looked at the representatives of the three Hollywood giants across from him, whose expressions were constantly changing, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"It seems we need some time for everyone, and myself, to properly digest these very constructive suggestions!"

"How about we take a 20-minute break? Everyone can take a closer look at the partitioning plan, or have some internal discussions. We can continue in 20 minutes, shall we?!"

He wasn't asking; he was announcing.

Carrick, Michael Chen, and Rosenthal exchanged glances, each seeing in the other's eyes a sense of seriousness, a sense of unease, and a hint of helplessness at being completely drawn into the other's rhythm.

This young man is so experienced, frighteningly so!
“Of course, Mr. Cheng!” Carrick was the first to stand up, his voice a little dry.

The others also stood up, and the sound of chairs being dragged around filled the conference room.

Everyone needs time to digest this massive amount of information, readjust their strategies, and deal with this opponent who is completely unpredictable but holds a winning hand.

Cheng Xuemin also stood up, nodded slightly to everyone, then turned around and walked unhurriedly towards the lounge on the side of the conference room.

Fu Qi, Huang Jianzhong, Gu Qiuna and others quickly followed!

The door closed behind him, temporarily isolating him from the vast arena of fame and fortune outside, a place filled with scheming, amazement, regret, and endless possibilities.

In the lounge, Gu Qiuna let out a long sigh of relief, patted her chest, and looked at Cheng Xuemin with shining eyes:
"Xuemin, you're amazing! I could hardly breathe just now! Those Hollywood bigwigs were all green with envy!"

Feng Jiazhao rubbed his hands excitedly: "Xuemin, this is truly... eye-opening! That's all US dollars! They really dare to ask for it!"

This was the first time Huang Jianzhong had ever seen such a scene. Although he was not an expert in business negotiations, he was still deeply moved by what he heard.

A movie, if it were to be sold worldwide, could potentially exceed... He almost dared not even think about that number!
He looked at Cheng Xuemin with admiration in his eyes, and a hint of complicated emotion in them!

This kid has really taken movies to a whole new level! Cheng Xuemin smiled, didn't reply, and walked to the bar in the lounge to pour himself a glass of warm water.
After taking a sip, he calmly looked through the one-way glass at the Hollywood representatives and local film distributors who were gathered in twos and threes in the small conference room outside, talking in hushed tones with serious expressions!
“Mr. Fu!” Cheng Xuemin put down his water glass and suddenly spoke!
"Xuemin, what's wrong?!" Fu Qi asked, stepping forward quickly.
"Help me invite Brian in, invite him in alone!" Cheng Xuemin's tone was calm, but the meaning behind his words surprised the people in the room.

Should we hire Brian separately?

The independent publisher who was completely overwhelmed by the three giants in the bidding just now, and whose face turned red with anxiety?
Gu Qiuna and Feng Jiazhao exchanged a glance, both somewhat puzzled!
Isn't now the perfect time to leave those giants hanging, let them compete internally and drive up prices?

What's the point of seeing Brian? His strength is clearly insufficient!
Huang Jianzhong also looked puzzled.

Only Fu Qi seemed to have thought of something, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he immediately nodded: "Understood, I'll go right away!"

He turned and left the lounge!

The atmosphere in the small conference room outside was oppressive and subtle.

Carrick, Michael Chen, and Rosenthal did not gather together. Instead, each with their assistants, they stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows or in corners, discussing in hushed tones and quickly.

They would occasionally flip through the documents in their hands, or frown in deep thought, while their assistants would quickly jot something down in their notebooks.

The team they brought was also communicating silently with their eyes and gestures; the air was thick with tension and the smell of competitive gunpowder.

Raymond Chow, Mona Fong, and Lui Kwok-kwan sat together, but the atmosphere was also somewhat strange!
Raymond Chow's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees, clearly still processing the sudden and enormous temptation of Golden Harvest potentially becoming an Asian partner.

Mona Fong's expression remained calm, but her eyes were sharp as she glanced at Raymond Chow and the three Hollywood representatives from time to time, her mind racing with calculations!
Lei Juekun looked dejected, holding a coffee that had long since gone cold, without taking a sip. His eyes were vacant, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
Brian stood alone not far from the door, looking somewhat out of place.

The enthusiastic smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression mixed with anxiety, resentment, and frustration.

He gripped the prepared document in his hand, which listed a global screening rights offer of forty million US dollars, his knuckles turning white!

He felt like the only beggar in this grand feast who hadn't brought enough money, watching helplessly as the crocodiles dressed in splendid evening gowns gathered around.

He was bidding wildly for his most prized possession, while he himself was almost too scared to even raise his paddle!
Just as he was suffering internally and almost wanted to leave early to drown his sorrows in alcohol, Fu Qi appeared at the conference room door and walked straight toward him.

“Mr. Brian!” Fu Qi said with a professional smile, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for a few people nearby to hear, “Mr. Cheng would like to invite you to the lounge for a private chat!”

Swish!
Almost the instant Fu Qi finished speaking, all conversations in the conference room stopped for a moment.

Several pairs of eyes shot over like searchlights, focusing on Brian and Fu Qi!
Carrick stopped whispering to his assistant, frowned slightly, and looked over.

Michael Chen pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses scrutinizing.

Rosenthal's smile faded, his small eyes narrowed, and a hint of doubt flashed across his face.

Raymond Chow, Mona Fong, and Lei Juekun also looked over, each with a different expression.

Want to talk privately?
At this critical moment, instead of continuing to pressure the three giants and seeking a more powerful partner, Cheng Xuemin met alone with Brian, who seemed to have been eliminated.

What does he want to do?
Brian himself was stunned, and it took him a full two seconds to react!

Then Fu Qi smiled and repeated, "Mr. Brian, this way please!"

He suddenly jolted awake, and an indescribable flush instantly rose on his ashen face, a complex mix of surprise, hope, and extreme tension.

"Okay! Okay! Of course! Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Cheng! Thank you, Mr. Fu!"

Brian was incoherent, frantically straightening his already crisp suit and then subconsciously smoothing his slicked-back hair.

He then took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner excitement!
Under the gazes of everyone—some doubtful, some scrutinizing, some envious—Brian straightened his back and followed Fu Qi toward the closed lounge door.

He knew those gazes were like needles pricking his back, but at that moment, only one thought remained in his mind: opportunity!

Cheng hasn't forgotten me, his old friend! I still have a chance!
Click!

The door to the lounge opened and closed, swallowing Brian's figure and cutting off all outside sights and speculations.

The meeting room was filled with hushed whispers again, but the atmosphere was more chaotic and uncertain than before!
Carrick walked to the window, looking at the view of Victoria Harbour outside, his face grim.

Michael Chen sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as he fell into deep thought.

Meeting Brian alone? Is it out of nostalgia?
Or... is there another motive?
This Cheng Xuemin is unpredictable in every way.

Rosenthal took out a cigar and was about to light it when he remembered that smoking was not allowed there, so he irritably twirled the cigar between his fingers.

He felt things were getting out of control!

……

Inside the lounge!

Once the door is closed, the noise and pressure of the outside world seem to be instantly shut out.

The room is simply furnished with a few sofas, a coffee table, a small bar, and soft lighting.

Cheng Xuemin stood by the bar, holding a glass of water. Hearing the door open, he turned around, revealing a gentle and sincere smile on his face, completely different from the one he had shown at the negotiating table.

“Brian, my old friend, come in!” Cheng Xuemin took two steps forward and extended his hand.

Seeing that smile and hearing the term "old friend," Brian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly felt half relieved.

He quickly took a few steps, grasped Cheng Xuemin's hands tightly, and shook them vigorously, his voice choked with emotion: "Cheng! Cheng! Thank God, you are still willing to see me!"

"Just now outside, I thought... I thought I was completely out of the game!"

"How could that be!" Cheng Xuemin patted his arm, leading him to sit down on the sofa, while he himself sat opposite him, his tone relaxed. "You're an old friend of ours. We had a very pleasant collaboration on 'Tai Chi' and 'Shaolin Temple,' didn't we?!"

These words were like a warm current, instantly flowing through Brian's entire body, making his nose feel a little sore.

Yes, back when this young Eastern director was unknown, it was Brian who was the first to extend an olive branch!

So it can be said that Brian made this young Eastern director who he is, and of course, it was also this young director who made Brian who he is.

Otherwise, without those two blockbuster movies, Brian's achievements wouldn't have reached the level he has today.

They would not be valued by MGM or become a partner.

MGM valued him highly, giving him full authority over all work in the Asia-Pacific region, and especially cultivating a good relationship with this young Eastern director, Cheng Xuemin.

……

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