Generation Z Artists

Chapter 321 The final outcome
The first thing the bearded man did upon entering was to burst into laughter.

"Oh, Director Fang, everyone in the industry is saying that your office is blessed by the heavens. If you take a walk around here, everything will go smoothly from here on out. Today it's finally my turn, Lao Zhang's turn! Hahahaha!"

He's quite outgoing and friendly.

Upon seeing Aunt Liu and her group in the reception area, he began to smile again.

"Oh my, Ms. Liu! You are truly a beauty... This must be Ms. Liu and Mr. Chen, right? It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Liu Yifei didn't get to film "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," so when she first met Zhang Jizhong, she felt that he was very warm and humble, without any airs.

But actually... why don't you try it in a different place?

When you're on Brother Fang's turf, nobody has to behave!

Fang Xinghe invited him to sit down and got straight to the point: "Producer Zhang, do you have a new project?"

"Yes, that's right!"

Zhang Jizhong didn't mince words. He hunched over, pulled a project proposal from his bag, placed it on Fang Xinghe's desk, and then began to recount the whole story.

"Actually, I've been very busy this year. I was busy with the broadcast of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' and the post-production of 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'. I was so busy that I didn't even think about starting any new projects."

However, if you, Director Fang, want to make a TV series, then I definitely have to offer some advice. It's quite a coincidence that I happen to have the copyright to Mr. Jin Yong's novel, "The Return of the Condor Heroes." I thought to myself, aren't you the chosen one, Yang Guo?
Seeing Miss Liu here makes me feel even more secure. Who else but her is the Little Dragon Girl?
"Ha, it must be some kind of destiny that brought us together. The moment I saw you two, I knew this project was a must-do, and if we did it, it would definitely succeed..."

Blah blah blah, mixing pleasantries with serious matters, Zhang Dahu quickly laid out the facts clearly.

However, despite his pleasant words, Brother Fang remained indifferent.

"I don't film Hong Kong and Taiwan content, didn't you know that?"

Fang Xinghe pulled a script for "The Return of the Condor Heroes" from the drawer and slammed it on the table.

"This version of the script was personally delivered by Mr. Yong, and it's been gathering dust in my drawer for a long time. Was it written by your team?"

Zhang Jizhong recognized the cover as the original draft he had made.

"Wow, this is different, Director Fang, it's really different!"

Old Zhang became excited and began to launch into a long, rambling explanation.

"Of course I know your taboo, but Hong Kong and Taiwan is a very broad concept, right?"
Your work has also been shown in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and many people have watched and liked it. Part of your funding has also been settled from Hong Kong Island, and LV and Cartier have huge posters of you hanging in Central...

See? We've always had this partnership.
The relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong is ultimately one of unbreakable ties; how could it be completely severed and cut off completely, with no further contact between them?
There are bad people and good people in Hong Kong, as well as enemies and friends.

Ultimately, it's just a small group of people in the Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment industry who have offended you. They are the ones you dislike and who are the ones who get in your way. It has nothing to do with the majority of patriots.

Let's just talk about Mr. Jin. He didn't offend you. Ming Pao has been clarifying the facts for you, and Mr. Jin himself has spoken out in support several times. He is a friend who is devoted to the mainland and worth winning over!

Upon learning that you wanted to film a TV series, Mr. Jin specifically asked me to bring the filming plan for you to review in person. He longs for you to play Yang Guo, and has been hoping for it for a long time…

Some of these statements are true; Mr. Yong did indeed invest very early.

Initially, when the two sides were exchanging insults, Mr. Yong's stance was ambiguous, and he tried to smooth things over throughout.

When Fang Xinghe received the May Fourth Youth Medal, Mr. Yong even personally wrote an article to congratulate him.

"Some people are destined to be remembered in history, such as Wang Bo, Su Dongpo, and Xinghe. Their talent is like a sword beam that pierces the night sky. You can see it as soon as you look up and feel awe. Even if you don't look up, they still stand tall in the sky, witnessed by heaven and earth, and astonished by gods and Buddhas."

He suggested that the Hong Kong entertainment industry reconcile with Fong Sing-ho as soon as possible, and was even criticized for it.

Some veteran filmmakers who don't make martial arts films called him a "lackey who will follow whoever feeds him."

Fang Xinghe didn't intend to accept this favor, but some Chinese people cared a lot about it, feeling that Mr. Yong's stance in his later years was very valuable to the country.

Yes, Ming Pao has indeed been very proactive in reporting on the development and changes in mainland China, which is very rare among Hong Kong media.

Zhang Jizhong then advised, "Director Fang, it's not my place to say how you handle things, but I just feel that the issues in Hong Kong and Taiwan are very complicated. It's not realistic to simply and crudely cut off everything and push everyone out."

They have never been a monolithic entity; there are still many patriots who are devoted to China, such as the Huo family, Guo Rong, Mr. Jin, and so on.

Bad people are bad people, and friends are friends. Great people tell us that the purpose of struggle is to make as many friends as possible. You must understand!

I see that you handle things very methodically, and you have been trying to promote a sense of national identity to neutral parties without indiscriminately condemning everyone. So why are you being so strict when it comes to filming dramas?

It's just about using copyright. I think it's okay to open such a small loophole, as a way to give the higher-ups some explanation.

There aren't many people left who dare to stand up to you, but more and more are crying and complaining to those above you. This is a form of insidious manipulation; you can't afford to be careless…

Fang Xinghe was surprised to learn that Old Zhang was such a good talker.

However, what he said made a lot of sense; his timing was spot on.

With "The Young Ones" grossing another $6 million, there are really not many people in Hong Kong and Taiwan who dare to confront Fang Xinghe head-on anymore. Instead, they are trying to curry favor, apologize, and offer gifts through various means.

They may not have truly submitted, but their attitude was quite good.

From the perspective of those at the top, they would certainly prefer to see harmony.

If Fang Xinghe continues to relentlessly pursue a group of defeated dogs who have already given in, he will be extremely irresponsible and will most likely be reprimanded.

Brother Fang isn't afraid of being summoned for questioning, but his reputation for bullying others by abusing his power is very unpleasant.

Therefore, Zhang Jizhong's hint was very apt: why not use this matter as an opportunity to express our stance to the higher-ups?

Fang Xinghe fell into deep thought.

In fact, he had already realized the change in the situation and was considering where he could send a signal of "reconciliation".

This reconciliation is not a true letting go, but a typical face-saving project, turning from an open and direct confrontation into a stage of mutual stabbing and backstabbing.

Using force to suppress is not a good way to discipline.

Whether they give in or resist, they will die, so anyone with a backbone will fight to the bitter end.

Only by dividing them from within, allowing some to reap the benefits while others continue to be punished, can the contradictions be wedged between them, creating self-division, and thus forcing the left-wing camp to accelerate its move towards the interior.

United Front work begins with unity, then coordination, and finally, the pooling of strength to achieve a decisive victory.

Many people understand the principle, but how to put it into practice requires a lot of wisdom.

Zhang Jizhong's suggestion was very pertinent, so Fang Xinghe was still willing to accept it, even though he came with his own stance and interests.

"Okay, you've basically convinced me. So, what are the specific terms of the cooperation?"

Old Zhang perked up and began to share his valuable insights.

“Let’s do this project together, with a planned investment of 150 million. I’ll contribute 80%, and you can contribute 20% as a token gesture. We’ll split the copyright 50/50. I’ll be the executive producer and handle the logistics for you, while you’ll be the director and oversee the filming. Yang Guo will definitely be yours, and Xiaolongnu must be played by Xixi. You can decide the other roles; I won’t interfere at all…”

Chen Jinfei and Ms. Liu were both stunned.

Such a powerful TV series producer, he's come running up here to hand over money?

Zhang Jizhong then added, "The TV drama industry is somewhat different from the film industry. Actually, you don't need to pay that 3000 million out of your own pocket. Just find someone and sell the profit-sharing rights to them at a premium. The copyright will still be yours. I'll gradually manage the revenue after the first run on CCTV-8..."

In front of Chen Jinfei and the others, Zhang Jizhong still didn't explain things clearly.

In fact, he never intended for Fang Xinghe to pay a single penny for this film, because he couldn't afford to pay Fang Xinghe's director's fee and lead actor's salary.

Seriously speaking, these two items alone could wipe out a hundred million in costs.

And this is still a friendly price. But the sales logic for TV dramas is that TV stations pay for the broadcasting rights. How much can they sell for per run? CCTV-8 can only offer 700,000 to 800,000 yuan per episode at most. Local stations can offer a bit more, but at most a million yuan.

The Condor Heroes could be filmed for about 40 episodes. The first round of sales would be 40 to 50 million, the second round 20 to 30 million, and the third round would be several million per household. The TV station alone could not break even.

With a massive investment of 1.5 million, it would be difficult to turn a profit even in ten years if the company relied solely on the domestic market.

However, the production company can start making a fortune as soon as the project is approved.

Zhang Jizhong's share of 1.2 million yuan, which he didn't have to pay a single penny of himself, could be resold for 1.6 million yuan or even more.

In other words, as long as he could persuade Fang Xinghe to participate, he could pocket a profit of over 4000 million yuan before the production team even started setting up the project.

If you deposit money in a bank for ten years, you'll earn 2500 million in interest. Is there any easier way to make money than that?
If you don't sell your shares and instead invest for the long term, you could probably earn even more.

It's important to know that Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and other regions are Fang Ge's territories. Martial arts films have no cultural barriers, so they will definitely support them enthusiastically.

Is it difficult to sell it for $5000 million in total?

The barriers to watching TV series in Europe and America are too great. Let's lower the estimate and aim for 2000 million in sales, okay?
It adds up to another five or six hundred million.

Zhang Jizhong's version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" doesn't have this magic, but once Fang Xinghe is added, it becomes a gold mine!

If he didn't own the film and television rights to "The Return of the Condor Heroes," Fang Xinghe wouldn't need him at all; he could have easily gotten the case under control with just a few words.

Therefore, Lao Zhang is a truly clear-headed person. He knows who he can bully and who he can't offend. He's ruthless when it comes to getting benefits and more generous when it comes to making concessions.

However, Brother Fang was still not satisfied.

"Producer Zhang, I have no shortage of money, but I must take the lion's share of the copyright. Would you like to hear my opinion?"

Zhang Dahuzi stopped laughing and his expression became very tense.

“Yes, please speak.”

“Switch the distribution ratios. I’ll contribute half the investment, I’ll take 80% of the copyright, and I’ll take you to the overseas market.”

These words struck Zhang Jizhong squarely.

The core of the problem is who guides whom.

"Or..." Fang Xinghe began slowly, "Domestic rights will be handled according to your plan, but for overseas rights, I'll pay an extra 5000 million RMB to buy them out?"

"Hahaha!" Zhang Jizhong chuckled dryly, his expression extremely unpleasant. "You're not joking with me..."

"Are you kidding me?"

Fang Ge straightened his posture, leaned forward, and his piercing eyes were full of pressure.

"Do I really have to make 'The Return of the Condor Heroes'?"

Wuxia dramas are the best genre to reach rural towns and villages, and their dominance is unparalleled, but it's not only "The Return of the Condor Heroes" that can be called wuxia.

Repairing "The World's Number One," drastically altering a web novel—why not?

Zhang Jizhong was left speechless when asked the question.

From his perspective, he didn't even think Fang Xinghe needed to film a TV series—it was hard work, it would lower his profile, and he wouldn't earn much money even if he worked himself to the bone, so why bother?

But in fact, the audience base of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is a core value that Fang Xinghe finds hard to give up.

It's rare to find a martial arts drama that meets all the criteria at the same time: it's a household name, easy to understand, features classic couples, and has outstanding characters.

Verbal belittling and indifference are merely negotiation tactics.

Zhang Jizhong was indeed taken aback. It wasn't that he wasn't shrewd enough, but rather that no normal person could understand Fang Xinghe's pursuit.

"Director Zhang, let's discuss this again..."

"There's nothing to discuss. You hold the copyright, so I'm not asking you for a premium; that's already the biggest concession I can make—I might be a bit blunt, but you can think about it carefully and see if that's the case?"

Fang Xinghe didn't intend to argue with him any further. After saying that, he tapped the table.

"Please go back and think it over carefully. I have other things to attend to here, so I won't keep you any longer."

Zhang Jizhong left with a conflicted expression. Before leaving, he hesitated to speak, but ultimately did not dare to confront Fang Xinghe directly.

There's no other reason than I'm afraid that if the madman gets angry, he'll just say "Screw you, I'm not filming anymore!"

This is what the public perceives Fang Xinghe as most likely to do.

As soon as he left, Chen Jinfei immediately asked curiously, "Director Fang, are you really planning to make this? Then, will you cast Xixi as Little Dragon Girl?"

"Besides Sissi, who can play the role of Little Dragon Girl well?"

The dog flattered the little girl and then made the decision for her.

"Delay your 'Chinese Paladin' project a bit longer. Just say I'm interested in starring in it, but I don't have time right now. Tell Tangren Media to prepare it carefully for a while longer and not to rush into filming."

That way, after you finish filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes," you can seamlessly move on to filming "Chinese Paladin."

Liu Xiaoli was shocked and speechless: "Director Fang, how can you be so sure that Producer Zhang will accept your conditions?"

"He had no choice."

Fang Xinghe smiled gently and said nothing more.

Chen Jinfei shook his head and sighed: "Now that he's here, he has to go all the way... Once the news of today's consultations leaks out, who will dare to play Yang Guo? I'm afraid there isn't a single male actor in China who can withstand this kind of pressure."

If we force it to be filmed, the audience won't agree, and if there's a boycott, we might lose everything..."

Yes, "Fang Xinghe never even considered playing Yang Guo" and "Fang Xinghe was approached but ultimately no agreement was reached" are two completely different concepts.

The former would only leave the starry sky feeling regretful, while the latter would incite riots.

From the moment Fang Xinghe made his statement, Zhang Jizhong had no way out.

Nenxian listened in a daze, probably not understanding anything, and her mind wasn't on these intricate details.

She blinked her eyes and asked in a silly, cute way, "Director Fang, are you really going to act in 'Chinese Paladin' with me?"

"What are you acting for!"

The dog laughed heartily, feeling extremely happy.

"I'm just keeping them hooked for you. Such an unlikable male lead is a waste of time."

Fang Xinghe was speaking the truth. The "Chinese Paladin" project had neither copyright nor character design. It was like working for Tangren and Softstar at the cost of one's own worth. No amount of money could justify accepting it.

But Nenxian's little head was filled with this kind of feeling—

Oh, so acting in the Legend of Sword and Fairy series with me was a waste of time...

The little girl was downcast, puffing out her cheeks in a sullen manner, looking both cute and sad.

The youth that Fang Xinghe had long lost is now blooming freely in her.

(End of this chapter)