I really don't want to be the top streamer anymore

Although Xu Kong is still staying in the crew.

But with the end of the theaters of "Operation Red Sea", and it is almost April.

Naturally, the release date of "Infernal Affairs" is still on the agenda.

It has already been delayed for so long, if it is really delayed until the summer vacation, Xu Kong will feel a little guilty.

At least from the entire process of previous cooperation, the attitudes of Cao Bentao and the entire Fengxiang Pictures were impeccable in all aspects.

The filming in Hong Kong was able to go so smoothly, and the other party's old film and television company played a big role.

……

"Yes, I know. Don't worry, brother Xu. We still understand these procedures."

"Although it's a little different here in Hong Kong and in the mainland, we can communicate at any time."

At this time, Cao Bentao, who was sitting in his office in Gangcheng, had already started calling Xu Kong "Brother Xu".

Xu Kong didn't care too much about such a title.

In fact, although Cao Bentao approached him from the beginning, he had a purpose in mind.

But he was still very particular about how he behaved throughout the process.

Although Xu Kong said that he didn't like this kind of social etiquette.

But it is really hard to hate someone with such an attitude.

Xu Kong also agreed to some subsequent cooperation between Fengge and Fengxiang Pictures.

Overall, Feng Ge didn't suffer any loss.

After all, Fengxiang Pictures was once a big company that was once glorious.

Although this is no longer the golden age of Hong Kong films.

But the large number of actors within the company who are familiar to the audience is definitely a very good resource.

……

After hanging up the phone, Cao Bentao looked at the two vice presidents of his company.

"What do you think is the most appropriate time to release Infernal Affairs?"

Both of them have followed Cao Bentao for decades.

The atmosphere at this moment did not seem like a serious meeting, but more like a private discussion.

"April and May were indeed a bit awkward, as the mainland's film market was still in a lukewarm period."

"But I don't think it's necessary to postpone it to the summer season."

"We have seen the finished film, and I am still very confident."

"Not to mention the mainland, the box office in Hong Kong is expected to be high."

……

As for "Infernal Affairs", let's not talk about the cost of filming it.

Everyone's original expectations were quite high.

Including Cao Bentao, everyone thinks that this movie can even be put into the golden age of Hong Kong movies.

The final box office results were the type that could win the box office championship of the year.

Not to mention now, there are no so-called competitors of the same period.

It is certain that this movie will win the box office championship in Hong Kong.

It just depends on how high the final box office can reach.

……

"How about May 1st?"

"It happens to be a holiday in the mainland."

"Also, I got the news that Changyun Film and Television will also release a new movie at this time."

Cao Bentao expressed his thoughts.

One of the vice presidents of Fengxiang Films was stunned for a moment, and then he couldn't help but ask:
"Boss Cao, the Changyun Film and Television you mentioned is not that company, right?"

Cao Bentao nodded.

"There is only one Changyun Film and Television in the mainland."

It was obvious that the three people present were well aware of the gossip about Feng Ge and Changyun Film and Television.

Cao Bentao deliberately chose this time to release "Infernal Affairs", and his purpose is obvious.

……

Before, Feng Ge had almost always been chasing after Changyun Film and Television.

TV series should be broadcast at a certain time and movies should be released in a certain schedule.

This was no longer a covert attack, but a blatant statement that there was no room for reconciliation between Feng Ge and Chang Yun.

But it's understandable.

If it were Cao Bentao himself, he would probably not be able to accept it at all if the company he had run for so many years was suddenly taken away by someone and the company's artists and management ran away with them.

If "Infernal Affairs" was a movie invested by Feng Ge himself, he would of course choose to release it at the same time as the movie from Changyun Film and Television without hesitation.

But although Xu Kong himself did not receive any remuneration as a director, the movie was still invested by Fengxiang Pictures.

Xu Kong had no intention of asking for the rights that investors should have in these matters. At most, he would just give some advice.

……

But I guess Xu Kong himself wouldn’t have thought of this, as he hasn’t received any relevant news yet.

Cao Bentao from Fengxiang Pictures already knew about it.

And they are very active in planning to release "Infernal Affairs" in the same period.

If I had previously declined some cooperation with Changyun Film and Television, it was just a slight expression of my position.

This time, by taking the initiative to let "Infernal Affairs" choose this time to be released, it is equivalent to completely taking sides.

There was no way, mainly because the movie Xu Kong brought out was something Cao Bentao couldn't refuse.

At this moment, in his opinion, Xu Kong was already worthy of placing most of his bets on.

……

"Then I also agree to release it on May Day."

"But Mr. Cao, I'm still a little curious. How did you know when the new movie from Changyun Film and Television will be released?"

After confirming the specific release date of the movie, a vice president couldn't help but ask.

"I naturally have my own methods."

"You really don't think that Fengxiang Pictures has only lost money in the mainland market over the years and has done nothing, do you?"

For Cao Bentao, he actually started trying to enter the mainland market a long time ago after seeing the potential of the market.

It’s just because of the decline of Hong Kong films and the fact that the entire company has so many people to support.

There is no way to simply abandon the original project model of Hong Kong films and TV series.

Ultimately, due to the times, most projects are no longer the kind that can easily make money just by filming them.

Many of them are not performing well in the local market of Hong Kong, and they are not doing well in the mainland either.

But I didn't make much money.

Revenue has decreased significantly compared to the company's peak period.

But at the same time, Fengxiang Pictures is a long-established large company in Hong Kong.

It is very easy to have your own network in the mainland entertainment circle and industry.

Although Changyun Film and Television is a newly established company, almost all of its employees are former Fengge employees.

If you want to find out information, it is not as difficult as you might imagine.

Even for the current Changyun Film and Television, in order to avoid being chased and beaten by Xu Kong and Feng Ge as before, the confidentiality work has been done well enough.

But if a movie wants to be released, there will be a lot of work involved before the official release date is announced.

Complete confidentiality is simply unrealistic.

What's more, the current Changyun Film and Television cannot be said to be a solid entity, and everyone is working together.

On the contrary, when many people first followed Zhu Changyun to leave Fengge, they were full of expectations.

But now seeing the situation of Changyun Film and Television, and the outrageous rise of Fengge after Xu Kong officially took over, many people have begun to regret leaving Fengge at that time.

……

At the same time, at Changyun Film and Television, Zhu Changyun was in a good mood today.

It has been almost a year since Changyun Film and Television officially opened.

Of course, the preparation time for the entire company must have been longer than this. Compared with his original expectations, the entire Changyun Film and Television has not achieved anything yet.

However, compared to being chased by Feng Ge's drama last year, several projects have suffered losses in a row and various situations have occurred frequently.

Their movies still earned nearly 3 billion yuan during this year's Spring Festival.

He failed to defeat Xu Kong and his old club Feng Ge, but it wasn’t a disastrous defeat either.

The movie did not suffer a loss and even made a lot of money.

This is already something to be happy about.

All we can say is that people’s mentality does undergo drastic changes at different times.

……

At the same time, Changyun Film and Television has finally stabilized.

There are generally no major problems with the company's operations.

Although film and television projects generally did not bring much profit.

But there are many first-line artists, even those who have won Best Actor and Best Actress awards.

The various activities, variety shows, film pay, endorsements, etc. every year alone are already a huge income.

Zhu Changyun is telling himself this now.

He is fighting a protracted war, and Changyun Film and Television will not be completely defeated by Xu Kong.

And Fengge only has Xu Kong.

No matter how outrageous a person's ability is, it is impossible for them to completely shut down their company.

At most it will just cause some trouble.

Just like during the Spring Festival period at the beginning of the year, didn’t their movie take second place in the box office during the same period?
……

"Boss Zhu, the lawsuits regarding most of the contract issues with Fengge are almost complete."

"This is a specific list of liquidated damages..."

Just when Zhu Changyun was humming a little tune and in a good mood, Lu Hanwen brought some bad news at an inopportune time.

"Why so many?"

After reading it, Zhu Changyun's mood instantly became bad.

At the beginning, many of Fengge’s former artists actually had contracts with the company that had not yet expired.

In the end, he brought them all here.

Of course, helping to bear the relevant liquidated damages and resolving the original contract issues with Feng Ge are also promises that need to be made.

This money was originally part of Zhu Changyun's plan.

In fact, he really didn't think it was a big deal at the time.

After all, many of the so-called sky-high liquidated damages for artists are no longer recognized by law.

Fengge has many veteran actors, and the penalty for breach of contract is not too high.

At that time, the company was confident that it could keep its artist resources, and the treatment it provided was almost the best in the industry.

But he couldn't handle the fact that the number of artists he took away was too large, and many of them were above the first-tier ones.

The penalty for breach of contract is not low.

Adding them all together, it seems that the numbers are indeed a bit exaggerated.

……

If it were when Changyun Film and Television was just established, Zhu Changyun would also feel it was high, but he would not have reacted so strongly.

But now, Changyun Film and Television’s cash flow is really not that strong.

This Spring Festival movie made a fortune, and now it looks like it all has to be paid back to Feng Ge?
It would be strange if Zhu Changyun was happy.

"Forget it, this kind of thing can't be delayed, it's just a little penalty, just give it to them!"

In the end, he gritted his teeth and said helplessly.

There is no way you can refuse to give it to me.

At present, many actors of Changyun Film and Television have been resting for a year.

In order to appease these artists, Changyun Film and Television did not spend a lot of money.

Solving contract issues early will also allow some artists to work normally in the future.

……

"I understand, Mr. Zhu."

Lu Hanwen nodded calmly in response.

In fact, for Lu Hanwen, the initial passion is long gone.

He was too lazy to even refute Zhu Changyun's arrangement.

Anyway, just do what the other party says and don't take the blame.

As for what made Changyun Film and Television surpass the former Fengge and even become the largest film and television company in the country.

He thought there was no possibility at all.

It seems now that he has probably forgotten the big promise that Zhu Changyun had painted for him.

……

"By the way, how is the movie 'Young and Beautiful' that we released in May?"

"Has it been officially approved?"

Zhu Changyun remembered the most important thing for the company recently and took the initiative to ask.

"Well, there is no problem with approval."

"In a few days, we should be able to confirm the official release date."

Lu Hanwen replied.

"I haven't seen the movie yet, but if you have, tell me what you think?"

"Can Zirui take on this responsibility?"

Zhu Changyun continued to ask.

Lu Hanwen was speechless for a moment.

I don't know whether to tell the truth or a lie.

……

The main thing is that Guo Zirui is a young actor personally selected by Zhu Changyun.

Now he is only eighteen years old and has just reached adulthood.

He felt that Zhu Changyun's plan was to make the other party into someone like Xu Kong back then?
He is quite handsome and doesn't look like those young and handsome actors that some companies are promoting.

And he is also quite talented in acting.

Compared with his peers, he is definitely one of the best.

If he can cultivate it slowly, Lu Hanwen is actually very optimistic about the future.

He was just asked to play the male lead right from the start, and he was a well-known director with a group of first-line actors working specifically with him.

It's really a bit too much effort.

What Lu Hanwen is most worried about is the harm of forcing things to grow too fast.

……

"I think your worry is unnecessary."

"The reason why I chose Zirui is mainly because I think he has the ability and qualifications to do the job."

"What's the point of forcing things to grow? A genius should have his own unique development path."

Sure enough, Lu Hanwen wanted to slap himself twice.

He said it was unnecessary. Although he had been very tactful, he still received a comprehensive rebuttal from Zhu Changyun.

Zhu Changyun has this kind of personality. In fact, he already has the answer in his heart, but he still pretends that he is good at listening to the opinions of his subordinates.

When I was with Fengge, I tried to control my attitude and content of speaking a little.

Now, I don’t even want to act anymore.

And genius has his own unique development path?

Do you really think you can get lucky and sign a newcomer like Xu Kong?
Replicate Xu Kong’s plan?
This is ridiculous...

...(End of chapter)