Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 500 The Division of Jin into Three Families: A Complete Transformation (Bonus Chapter for Boss Mengqiqi!)
At 6 a.m. on December 31, before dawn, Wang Jianlin was already jogging in the villa area, his steps shrouded in frost – a habit he had developed during his years in the military.

For him, this habit of diligent exercise is the key to starting a full day of work, enabling him to handle all kinds of complex matters with full energy every day.

Especially during this turbulent time.

55-year-old Lao Wang doesn't have that much stamina. He keeps running and walking, and he can't stop himself from getting cold. After more than half an hour, he returned home, where the housekeeper had already prepared breakfast.

"Wang Sicong hasn't gotten up yet?"

The live-in nanny, who had worked for the family for many years, looked embarrassed: "She came back very late yesterday. Should I go and call her again?"

Since the Christmas party started, there have been three or four parties this week. I've really been influenced by the Western way of doing things.

Wang Jianlin sat quietly at the dining table, peeling eggs with a displeased expression, and couldn't help but start thinking about how to raise his soon-to-graduate son.

He only has one son, so he can't let him grow up to be too eccentric. Even if he can't compare to that genius, he should at least be able to transfer power to him safely and peacefully.

If all else fails, the only option left is to find a professional manager to take over.

Before Wanda encountered debt pressure and a performance-based crisis in 2020, Wang Jianlin personally held 0.24% of Wanda's shares and held 99.76% of the shares through Dalian Hexing Investment Co., Ltd.

However, the shareholders of Dalian Hexing are only a father and son, with Lao Wang holding 98% and Si Cong holding 2%.

Like Tongwenjie, Wanda's equity structure is highly closed, and for more than a decade, it has been a one-man show run by Wang Jianlin.

"Dad! Didn't I tell you to call me when you run?" Wang Sicong laughed as he ran downstairs, immediately shifting the blame.

He quickly snatched the egg from his father's hand: "Let me peel it for you."

"Who did you meet up with yesterday?"

"Hey! They're all friends of similar age from the international student circle. I'm not just hanging around aimlessly, am I?"

Wang Sicong obediently put the egg on his father's plate, then picked up a fried dough stick and stuffed it into his mouth, eating in a very uncouth manner.

There aren't many rules about meals at home, mainly because Old Wang used to be a ravenous eater in the army, where you had to fight for food.

Wang Sicong was extremely interested in the entertainment industry and had been thinking about returning to China after graduating in 09 to see if his father could let him gain experience at Wanda Cinemas or the soon-to-be-established film company.

He didn't think too much about it; a key position was enough.

So now he started showing off his social skills, subtly hinting, "Dad, let me count the people from last night for you—"

“Zhong Shuzi from Nongfu Spring and Zong Fuli from Wahaha are both from Hangzhou. There’s also Yang Huiyan from Country Garden. She’s the most important person here. Originally, Liu Qin from the Liu family was also supposed to come, but she had to leave due to other commitments. The rest are all young masters and princesses from Beijing.”

The group of people Wang Sicong was referring to were all second-generation businesspeople born in China between 1980 and 1990, and all of them had overseas study experience. It's unclear who organized the gathering.

Wang Jianlin took a sip of millet porridge and looked at his son with some surprise: "You've made progress, but you must be the poorest one here, right? Do they even consider you? Would they even let you hang out with them?"

Old Wang was thoroughly slapped in the face. Wang Sicong sighed, half-jokingly, "Zhong Shuzi is a junior at the University of California. He'll be coming back for an internship in the second half of the year."

"As for the rest, Yang Huiyan started working at Country Garden a year ago, and now she is in charge of developing hotel business and overseas investment."

"Zong Fuli is also a strong woman type. She served as the president of Hongsheng Beverage Group for two years. She is about the same age as Liu Qin, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old."

Wang Sicong looked longingly at his father. Other second-generation rich kids were already in power at 25 or 26, while he was about to turn 21, but according to the British education system, he would graduate after the New Year.

Compared to the above companies, Wanda is not the best, but it is by no means far behind. Doesn't it deserve an arrangement of the same level?
In his previous life, Xiao Wang, who graduated and returned to China in 09, quickly became a director of Wanda Group and received 5 million yuan in angel investment from his father, establishing Pusi Capital, which focuses on private equity investment.

Old Wang said: I'll give you 5 million first, and if you lose it all, I'll give you another 5 million. If you lose that all, you can go back to work at Wanda.

However, the timeline has changed drastically in this life. Due to the boom in the domestic film industry and the disintegration of Huayi Brothers, Wanda decided to advance its film and television production business ahead of schedule, and complete the full coverage from production to distribution, marketing and theaters.

In particular, this father and son had already noticed some clues and made ample preparations before Huayi changed hands, half a year earlier than in the previous life.

Wang Jianlin ate quickly, wiped his hands, looked at his son, and solemnly said, "When Lu Kuan was 21, he had already founded Wenjie for two years and was gradually beginning to show his talent. Blog.net should have been operating around the same time."

"You're 21 now, you need to think carefully about which path you should take."

"I want to go back to Wanda!" Wang Sicong blurted out. "Dad, just give me a vice president position at Wanda Film & Media. I'm confident!"

"Aren't you going to invest anymore?"

“Wow! Chinese films are like picking up money right now, isn’t this the best investment?” Wang Sicong said confidently, “I’ve been studying the development models of Wenjie and Lukuan for the past six months.”

"Our goal can be summed up in just four words!"

Wang Jianlin squinted at him and asked, "Beyond the Boundaries?"

"No! Complete imitation!"

"Hehe, good." Wanda's chairman was very pleased: "If you're going to come up here and start asking questions, you should get lost as soon as possible."

Wang Sicong confidently stated: "Imitation is the cheapest and most efficient means of competition since the birth of the business concept."

"Why should we try to cross the river by feeling for stones? We can easily cross by feeling for the boundary!"

Wang Jianlin glanced at his watch and decided to listen to his rambling on and on, so as not to delay the press conference this morning.

How to imitate?

"Since Wenjie is running Netflix in North America, why can't we just acquire movie theaters directly?"

"Wenjie is developing an internet-plus-film marketing and promotion model in China, and we will fill the gap by cooperating with Huayi and Alispace. In short, this time the cooperation between News Corporation and Lu Kuan is just a one-time collaboration based on Avatar."

"There's also the star-making model in the industry. We can't manage artists, but we can take advantage of what's readily available, right? As for the choice of stars, I think Jing Tian and Yang Mi would be very suitable."

“Jing Tian is Uncle Jing’s child, not a contracted artist with Wenjie; Yang Mi is very clever, look how happily she’s trying to get close to Liu Yifei on Weibo.”

Wang Sicong said confidently, "The most crucial thing is that we anticipated his intentions and managed to win over Feng Xiaogang and Wu Ershan. These two are quite capable."

He shamelessly flattered, "Dad, you're so decisive!"

Wang Jianlin waved his hand, indicating he wasn't buying it. Then he picked up his coat from the armrest of the chair and said, "Stop talking about ozone layers. Recently, Wenjie's online ticketing software has started testing, and it's causing quite a stir. A fierce battle is inevitable."

"But judging from the fact that 'If You Are the One' has grossed over 1.6 million yuan in just half a month, Huayi Brothers and Ali's 'imitation' has actually achieved results, proving the correctness of this path."

"Imagine if everything goes smoothly, Ali could leverage the flagship store of 'If You Are the One' to drive traffic and expand its B2C business, coupled with online ticketing to attract new customers, the development momentum would be completely different. There's also Huayi, which is about to go public, but..."

However, the fruits of victory were stolen.

Wang Sicong laughed and said, "Those idiots, we have all the shares in our own hands, we're not afraid of them playing tricks."

"Let's stay humble and not be arrogant. Imitation can only bring us to the same level as our competitors. We need to think about how to surpass them."

"Think about your strengths, and in the six months before graduation, write a development plan for Wanda Films for me. It should be detailed and have an international perspective."

The driver drove to the bottom of the building, and after Old Wang finished speaking, he prepared to push open the door and leave.

"dad?"

"What?" Wang Jianlin turned around.

Wang Sicong swallowed hard, recalling the recent rumors circulating among second-generation overseas students: "Do I... have any younger siblings?"

"WTF?"

"It's okay, it's okay, haha!"

Old Wang was speechless. Then he turned around and scolded him, "You'd better prove yourself, or you won't be in charge of Wanda no matter what!"

"Eh!"

Wang Jianlin served as the director of the government office of Xigang District, Dalian, from 1974 to 1989, a period when policies were strictly enforced.

When he resigned from his public office in 92 to start his own business, he was almost 40 years old. At the beginning of Wanda's entrepreneurial journey, he faced many hardships and did not have any more children with his wife.

Compared to the glamorous private lives of other entrepreneurs, Lao Wang's reputation in this regard is still in line with universal values, although part of the reason is the strong influence of his wife's family.

The millet porridge in front of the second-generation heir had gone cold, and he was lost in thought about the reprimands and interrogations left behind by his father.

What are my strengths?

My damn advantage is cursing and mocking people, but I wouldn't dare use it on Lu Kuan!
At 9:30 a.m., the Wanda headquarters on Chang'an Avenue in Beiping was bustling with people. The spotlights at the registration area formed a sea of ​​light, and the microphones of CCTV Movie Channel and the recording pens of The Beijing News were crowded together.

Reporters in the back row stood on tiptoe to get a better view, while photographers in the front row knelt down to grab a good spot. This press conference not only concerned Wanda's entry into the film and television industry, but also affected the industry landscape after Huayi's change of ownership.

When Wang Jianlin, dressed in a navy blue suit, entered the venue, the sound of camera shutters suddenly intensified. On the stage, under the gold-plated backdrop that read "Wanda Film and Television Media Establishment Ceremony," Feng Xiaogang and Wu Ershan sat on either side.

This aligns with the style of Wanda and Lao Wang; they don't like to create suspense and prefer to announce information directly.

There wasn't even a host at the event; Wang Jianlin himself stood on the stage.
"Dear media friends and industry colleagues, today, Wanda officially enters the film and television production field, completing the closed loop of the entire industry chain from commercial real estate and cinema terminals to content production."

"This is not following the trend, but an inevitable choice made by Wanda after so many years of deep cultivation in the cultural industry."

"China's box office revenue in 08 is about to exceed 55 billion yuan, and the number of screens has grown at an average annual rate of over 25%, but the supply of high-quality content is still seriously insufficient."

Wang Jianlin paused for a moment: "Even Wenjie, one of the leading film and cultural media companies in China, only has three films released during the Lunar New Year season."

"Today, I am honored to announce the establishment of Wanda Film & Media Company and the addition of two of China's best directors, Feng Xiaogang and Wu Ershan."

"They have already proven their ability to balance commerce and art in their past works, and Wanda will use its top-tier cinema resources and international capital to ensure that their talents are not wasted!"

The reporters in the audience started rushing to write their stories as soon as they entered the venue, especially regarding the departure of two meritorious directors in the context of Huayi's change of ownership, and what their connection was with the "1220 Zhou Jun case".
And according to the recent online revelations by a user named "Fish Circle Little Pudding," the mastermind behind Huayi's change of ownership points to Voldemort. What is the connection between this and Wanda's poaching of talent?
After all, in the online ticketing market that is gradually becoming popular in first-tier cities across the country, Alibaba and Wanda are direct competitors of Wenjie.

Huayi Brothers has fallen, but due to the explosive growth of the Chinese film industry, the number of people vying for a share has only increased.

Feng Xiaogang and Wu Ershan spoke in turn, and then it was finally time for the reporters' questions.

"Director Feng, you are also a shareholder of Huayi Brothers. May I ask what the specific situation is with Huayi Brothers now? And why did you leave?"

Xiao Gangpao chuckled and said, "Regarding Huayi's situation, I think all of you reporters here have received the news. They will hold a press conference this afternoon, so I can't say more."

"As for my shares, they have all been transferred to Ms. Fan Bingbing. Please ask for further questions at the Huayi press conference this afternoon."

When Kuzi got to this point, his expression became less natural, because giving up his shares was a last resort.

The only problem is that due to the major changes in the controlling shareholder and the board of directors, it is necessary to resubmit the application for approval to the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The timing of the listing is in the hands of the board of directors that Fan Bingbing has re-elected.
Secondly, he and Wang Dajun signed a long-term cooperation contract in 2007 with a penalty of up to 4000 million RMB for breach of contract. If he does not give up this part of the equity, it will be difficult for him to leave.

Third, as far as he knows, he, Wu Ershan, Xu Zheng, He Ping (director of "Warriors of Heaven and Earth"), Chen Sicheng and others are about to leave, and even popular actresses like Yang Mi, who are subordinate to Liu Yifei.

Everyone has already hollowed out Huayi, so let's see what Fan Bingbing can use to go public.
Moreover, Wanda also gave him a high signing fee, which was a considerable compensation for the loss.

Feng Xiaogang naturally spoke highly of his former employer: "Actually, I've known President Wang for a long time, probably since 06 when Wanda was promoting 'The Banquet' in Dalian."

"That year, our film scheduling was targeted by competitors, but Mr. Wang was very supportive of our work, which moved me and showed me the magnanimity of a top mainland entrepreneur."

He grinned, his flattery reaching a fever pitch: "This internal reform at Huayi was completely unexpected, especially the passing of General Manager Wang and the departure of General Manager Wang, which are truly regrettable."

"As Mr. Wang said, the golden age of the mainland film industry has arrived. I think the industry needs more people like Mr. Wang who work together to make the pie bigger. That's all!"

The reporters were incredibly excited; wasn't this yet another instance of linking up with the hot topic of Huayi's change of ownership?

As a result, no one asked about Wanda's film and television production business anymore; all attention was focused on Huayi's palace intrigue.

The Beiping Daily reported: "Director Feng, everyone knows that 'The Banquet' was cut from screenings by the industry, but in the end, the film was indeed proven to be of mediocre quality and reputation."

"But 'If You Are the One' has indeed achieved excellent results this year. Could you elaborate on your so-called 'making the pie bigger'? Are there people stealing a piece of the pie?"

The reporter's questions were very strategic, a mix of praise and criticism, maintaining a neutral stance. The very first sentence ignited the fire in Little Cannon's temper, clearly intended to get him to fire his guns.

"The Banquet" was his first attempt at a big-budget film, and it was a huge flop.

The following year's low-budget film "Assembly" became a huge hit, and this year's "If You Are the One" with a budget of less than 4000 million yuan has led to the general consensus among industry professionals and film critics that he cannot handle big-budget films.

Zhang Yimou and Lu Kuan are both capable of directing and coordinating films with a budget of up to 10 billion yuan with ease, especially after the Olympics with a total budget of 8.31 million yuan.

However, Xiao Gangpao is still a collection of movie sketch kings and joke tellers, and the style of his works does not quite match the audience in the south.

However, Feng Xiaogang today is far less likely to speak out as freely as he did a few years ago. He is well aware of the fates of the Wang brothers and Zhou Jun, so he responded with a smile: "You're overthinking it. Domestic film companies all make their own contributions; otherwise, how could the industry be so prosperous?"

Reporter from "Heartbeat News": "Mr. Wang, according to information disclosed by Huayi during its IPO preparations a month ago, Director Feng's breach of contract penalty is as high as 4000 million yuan. May I ask about this amount?"

Wang Jianlin was very frank: "People often say that there are many talented horses, but few discerning judges of talent. In fact, as far as the current state of Chinese films is concerned, there are still too few talented directors."

"In order to reach a cooperation agreement with Director Feng, Wanda paid a penalty of 40 million yuan for breach of contract, and in order to compensate Director Feng for any potential equity loss, it gave him a signing fee of 100 million yuan."

Old Wang said confidently, "I often tell my son that young people should be down-to-earth when starting a business, like setting a small goal of earning 100 million yuan first!"

"But for an established director like Director Feng, Wanda Pictures has set a target of 1 billion yuan in box office revenue within three years!"

"We absolutely believe that Director Feng is worth the price!"

As soon as Wang Jianlin finished speaking, the venue erupted in chaos. Reporters' fingers flew across their keyboards, and the sound of camera shutters filled the air.

A signing fee of 100 million yuan is considered an astronomical sum in the domestic director circle.

Feng Xiaogang sat on the stage, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his face. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at his shocked colleagues in the audience.

It feels so good, so incredibly good. It was worth making such a big decision to leave.

Wang Jianlin's statement was exaggerated; at least the 100 million yuan signing fee consisted of multiple components, including box office revenue sharing, bonuses, and returns on film investment.

Furthermore, just like football stars who stay in one city for one season or who don't transfer during the prime of their careers—

Zhang Yimou, Lu Kuan, and others have no "transfer records," which makes Feng Xiaogang's 100 million yuan figure seem even more alarming!
But this is also an excellent publicity stunt.

How could Wanda Pictures' debut on its first day be complete without a compelling story for journalists to write about?
Occasionally, a question was posed to Wu Ershan, but the topic still couldn't escape the realm of questioning, as everyone wanted to dig deeper into this key point.

"Director Wu, you worked at Wenjie for a few years, but then inexplicably switched to Huayi, and now you've joined Wanda. What were your considerations?"

Thanks to the success of "Painted Skin 2," Wu Ershan is now a highly praised representative of the middle-aged generation of directors. He confidently took the microphone and said:
"I am grateful for my experience working at the previous two companies, especially at Wenjie, where I made great progress. The 'Zhu Xian' series is still one of the highest-rated and most-watched fantasy dramas in China."

"However, well... how should I put it, I still have many artistic aspirations and ideas that I need to articulate. I hope to showcase the spirit of more diverse ethnic groups and offer a more diverse and broader perspective, which may bring the audience a better viewing experience."

"That's why I came to Wanda, because Mr. Wang's vision, strategic thinking, and the company's cinema chain foundation are all excellent, that's all."

A round of applause erupted from the audience, giving a round of applause to the Mongolian director.

The morning press conference ended quickly, covering topics such as Wanda's official entry into the entire film industry chain, its impending competition with companies like Wenjie, and Feng Xiaogang's record-breaking signing fee of 100 million yuan.

More importantly, Huayi seems to be losing its vitality. What is the point of the equity advantage that Fan Bingbing painstakingly acquired?

Immediately, opinions on the internet were divided.

The reporters returned with a wealth of information, but their only complaint was about Wanda's scheduling.

Generally speaking, reporters present at such interviews and reports can at least get free travel expenses and lunch. But it's not even 11 o'clock yet, so how can they have the nerve to stay?
Reporters braved the cold wind and headed out, hesitating whether to return to their companies first or go directly to Huayi's headquarters in Fenglian Plaza.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Reporters, please!"

Suddenly, three or four buses bearing the "LeTV" logo appeared in front of Wanda Plaza. As soon as the doors opened, the leader shouted through a megaphone: "Dear media friends, thank you for your hard work! LeTV has some major news to announce regarding Chinese films, and we've specially sent these buses to pick you up!"

"Lunch has been arranged. Let's eat and chat. Everyone will receive a small red envelope as a token of our appreciation. This afternoon, we'll head straight to LeEco headquarters for the press conference!"

This behavior is typical of a coal mine owner.

Bold, direct, and doesn't play games with you.

Old Wang was walking upstairs with the waving pants and the silent Wu Ershan when he noticed several buses outside the company and became curious.

The secretary quickly approached: "Chairman, it's LeEco. It seems they've invited reporters to a meeting. Should we...?"

"Let them be, we won't get involved," Wang Jianlin smiled and didn't take it seriously. "It would be nice if they treated the reporters to a meal for us."

Feng Xiaogang seemed to have thought of something, and immediately chimed in, "President Wang, today's performance of the Three Kingdoms Dividing Jin is going to be very interesting."

"Hehe, it's almost Chinese New Year, it's getting more and more lively." Old Wang smiled, clearly someone who knew the inside story.

The division of Jin into three states?

Wu Ershan, who was following at the back, looked puzzled. He was a newly successful director and did not yet have enough connections to know many industry secrets in advance.

The reporters outside Wanda Plaza looked at each other in surprise, but soon someone recognized LeEco CEO Zhang Zhao, dressed in a suit and tie, as he stepped off the bus.

Zhang Zhao joined LeTV very early on, and later works such as "Metallic Attraction: Kung Fu Cyborg" and "Battle of Shama Town" were projects he spearheaded.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are reasons for today's situation, so we have no choice but to resort to this measure. We sincerely invite you to LeEco for a meeting, where we will announce some news that will shake the mainland film industry!"

"Is LeEco trying to steal the limelight from Wanda or Huayi?" a reporter muttered.

"Who cares, at least we'll have food to eat!" Another reporter was already carrying his camera and heading towards the bus.

In the cold wind, reporters swarmed into the car, and LeEco staff thoughtfully offered them hot drinks and snacks, giving some of them a taste of the frustration of a journey filled with mishaps.

"Holy crap! This is the road to the China World Hotel!" Several reporters sensed something was wrong. LeTV's hijacking of this deal was a bit too extravagant, wasn't it?
The China World Hotel and the China World Hotel, which hosted foreign heads of state during the Olympics, are both brands under the Shangri-La Group. The China World Hotel is slightly lower in class than the Shangri-La Hotel, but it is still the first choice for foreign businessmen and multinational corporations.

From the direct interception of the bus by the staff to the high-class status of the China World Hotel, the reporters had already started discussing it on the bus and via text message.

I've heard that LeEco's boss has a background in coal mining, and seeing him today, I can confirm that there's more to it than meets the eye.

It snowed again in Beiping today. In the warm Guomao Hotel, the reporters ate and drank tea, and some of them, shamelessly, started to make a fuss:

"Hey, LeEco, you need to schedule your press conference earlier, right?"

"Huayi's class starts at 3 PM, so everyone mustn't be late!"

"Exactly! We should praise you guys after the meal, but we can't let it interfere with everyone's important business, okay?"

"Oh right! And what about the promised red envelope?"

The restaurant was noisy and chaotic. Reporters from major newspapers, who had eaten and seen many things, calmly drank tea and picked their teeth, which already showed the poor quality of the tabloid reporters.

Upon hearing this, a female employee from LeEco consulted with her superior and learned that everything was ready. She then greeted everyone with a professional smile and invited them to proceed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the press conference is ready to begin and is expected to end before 2 p.m. Travel expenses will be provided. Thank you all for coming!"

"Alright! Let's go!"

"Mr. Jia is too particular; he'll definitely write a good one for you today!"

As the reporters entered the Cloud Top Hall of the China World Hotel, the crystal chandeliers illuminated the entire venue in a magnificent golden glow.

At the center of the main stage, the 3D logo of "LeTV Culture Media Establishment Ceremony" shone brightly under laser projection.

Yang Mi!?
Sharp-eyed reporters suddenly noticed a familiar name on the nameplate on the stage, and upon looking at each one, they discovered more "elements" from the original Huayi.

Besides rising star Yang Mi and Li Binbin, the female lead in the patriotic film "The Knot," there is also He Ping, the director of "Warriors of Heaven and Earth" and vice president of the Directors Guild.
Teng Huatao, former director signed with Huayi Brothers and director of "Chinese Paladin 3";

Chen Sicheng, assistant director of "Painted Skin 2";
Renowned Hong Kong director Chen Kexin...

Although the person hadn't arrived yet, the reporters who were already snapping photos of the nameplate were now having the same thought as Kuzi.

The division of Jin into three states!

Is Huayi going to be completely hollowed out?

Not long after, Jia Yueting, who will be returning to China next week, took the stage himself. Actresses such as Yang Mi and directors also stepped into the center of the stage. The support team and atmosphere group that the coal bosses had invited in advance screamed and applauded, and the atmosphere suddenly became very high!
"Everyone! Thank you for coming at the last minute. This press conference is a bit rushed."

"To be honest, we thought about it for a long time, mainly because there are too many developments in the industry. We at LeEco also wanted to shamelessly ride on the coattails of Wanda and Huayi's popularity, haha!"

Old Jia, with his dark complexion, was quite frank; isn't this just him trying to ride the wave of popularity?

Three press conferences were held in one day by domestic film and entertainment companies. One was Wanda, the leading private cinema chain, and the other was Huayi, a top-tier company that has recently been trending on Weibo.

But LeTV, the second-largest video website, what business is it of yours to meddle in the affairs of the film industry?
The reporters' questions didn't last long. Before everyone could even catch up on their way to Huayi, Jia Yueting, without keeping them in suspense, announced with an air of confidence:

"Everyone, I have two announcements to share."

"First, LeEco has initially completed its shareholding reform and has begun preparations for listing on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM), with the goal of achieving great success after the financial crisis ends!"

Reporters taking photos and taking notes couldn't dampen Jia Yueting's excited spirit.

"Secondly! In view of the booming development of China's film industry, after several rounds of negotiations in the past two months, the company has officially introduced several partners, including Beiping Huiyu Investment and Xinmi Investment, and invited well-known professionals such as Ms. Yang Mi, a former star of Huayi Brothers, actress Che Xiao, director Teng Huatao, and director He Ping!"

"Starting today! LeTV will officially change its name to LeTV Culture Media, and while planning its IPO, it will officially enter the film industry!"

The reporters were dumbfounded. How could this coal boss do things like it was a joke?
It's one thing to treat people to meals and give red envelopes when a bus is used to transport them, but why does filming a movie have to be done like cooking a big pot of food? There's no commotion at the beginning, and then the food is served all of a sudden?
The sensible ones have already started cheering and clapping. Even if it's just for the sake of the generous red envelopes, we can't let the atmosphere get cold, can we?
Those who serve as firewood for prostitutes should not be allowed to freeze to death in the wind and snow!
If everyone were as stingy as Old Wang, a former soldier, how would we all have a good Spring Festival?
At the end of 2008, LeEco was in the process of preparing for its IPO. Naturally, the early entry of coal funds found Jia Yueting with ease.

His stake in the "Modern Shanxi Guild Hall" Yinshan Hall, the entertainment industry clique his wife Gan Wei had cultivated, and LeTV, which ranked second only to Wenjie Video in the industry, were all the best bridgeheads for black money.

In its previous life, LeEco went public on the ChiNext board in 10. In this life, influenced by the "unprecedented upheaval in the film industry in ten years" brought by the time traveler, it intervened in the film industry ahead of time.

As for Beiping Huiyu Investment and Xinmi Investment that Jia Yueting just mentioned, the former is the investment company of Li Zhaohui, the future richest man in Shanxi Province, and Che Xiao is his girlfriend in the entertainment industry.

The latter, as the name suggests, is a joint venture established by Yang Mi and her boyfriend, who felt that they could no longer be "between Qi and Chu".

Specifically, it is a wholly-owned investment by the families behind many gold mines, just to promote her and use her.

After all, Yang Mi is currently one of the top three actresses in China, and with Liu Yifei's number one position being unshakeable, she is the best partner for collaboration.

As for Yang Mi, she knew that she had played a dishonorable role in the change of ownership of Huayi, which had greatly reduced her room for maneuver with her best friend Xiao Liu.

Da Mimi, known in the martial arts world as Xiao Bingbing.

She simply stopped pretending. "I'm a coal mine owner's wife and a wealthy socialite now. Who doesn't have money?"
In the past two years, they've first staged a "wedding of the century" to boost their profile, then produced a co-production to bolster their confidence. Isn't that just hype and packaging? Is what they're doing in the industry still considered a secret?
In addition, LeEco Culture also invested in the production of the new version of "Dream of the Red Chamber" and introduced a hidden shareholder, Ding Shumiao, who is a close associate of Liu Tiegui.

Thus, LeTV Culture Media, spearheaded by Jia Yueting, gathered extremely powerful coal mine owners with substantial financial resources and established secret connections with them, was born.

Clearly, this is also an imitation of the "Internet + film" company in the industry.

With speeches from Yang Mi, Teng Huatao, and contracted Hong Kong and Taiwan director Chen Kexin, this grand drama, which started somewhat abruptly but had been brewing for a long time, finally came to a close.

On stage, Yang Mi smiled radiantly as she talked about her next project, while her boyfriend, who was said to be a second-generation graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, watched her with a smile.

When the reporters saw the radiant beauty of Che Xiao, an actress whose career had been relatively low-key, the same thought flashed through their minds:
The black gold and coal bosses have officially "invaded" the film industry.

With the government's announcement of coal industry reform and restructuring in 08, private coal mines were nationalized, ending the myth of coal bosses.

As China's consumption-driven economic growth came to an end, the coal bosses who withdrew with enormous wealth scattered across the land.

The most generous investor, the most discerning taste, and the clearest investment objectives are about to land in the Chinese entertainment industry!

The first to feel this are the fortunate journalists who are here today.

Emerging from Wanda Plaza in the chilly air, I immediately ate until I was stuffed and full, carrying incredibly exciting news and nearly overflowing red envelopes, before embarking on my journey to my final destination.

Many reporters couldn't resist secretly opening the red envelopes, finding a full 2000 yuan!
Damn! This is really exhilarating! We don't know how the movie turned out yet, but the production quality is top-notch in the industry!
But then everyone thought about it again, and it seemed that Bingbing, who had painstakingly acquired control of Huayi, had suffered a major blow before it even began.

The departure of Yang Mi, Teng Huatao, and others is understandable, after all, Huayi still has leading male and female stars such as Bingbing, Zhou Xun, and Huang Xiaoming.

But how can we compensate for the loss of Feng Xiaogang and Wu Ershan, the two most capable directors of Huayi Brothers in the past two years, who were poached by Wanda, which had long harbored ulterior motives?

The reporters, filled with questions, arrived at the "crime scene"—

The Fenglian Plaza building, where the bloodstains and remains of the "1220 Zhou Jun case" have been covered by several heavy snowfalls.

What was supposed to be the most anticipated press conference now seems to have lost everyone's interest.

Bingbing, who survived the ordeal, is still lying in bed. What major news could there be today?

At 3 PM, Huayi, which has experienced a series of dramatic events in the past month, including its listing, change of ownership, and a car accident, officially held a press conference.

The scene lacked the orderly atmosphere of Wanda and the enthusiastic atmosphere of LeEco. As Bingbing slowly stepped out from behind the curtain and onto the stage, everyone couldn't help but cast inquiring and scrutinizing glances.

She was in a car accident on the 20th, how come she's already out of bed now?!

As the lights focused, Fan Bingbing slowly walked onto the stage, each step laborious and difficult, as if she were trampling over the bloody storms of the past month.

She wore a sharply tailored dark red velvet suit with a black turtleneck sweater underneath, which not only concealed the brace for her ribs but also suppressed the noise of the room with its cool color scheme. A diamond brooch on her collar sparkled like a cold star.

The entire audience fell silent immediately after the opening act!

What a workaholic!

Bingbing also came directly from the hospital with the doctor's permission because her rib fractures were not accompanied by hemothorax or damage to the thoracic organs. It was okay for her to get out of bed and walk slowly, but she absolutely could not do strenuous exercise or run and jump.

No one could dissuade her; the leading lady herself regarded today as her first official appearance on the capital stage.

Despite her injuries not yet healed, her back was ramrod straight, her right hand resting lightly on the podium, her left arm hanging naturally, only the slight whiteness at her fingertips betraying the hidden pain beneath the bandages.

The whispers from below the stage gradually subsided. Someone noticed the faint outline of a medical back brace visible beneath her suit jacket, followed by Bingbing's steady voice:
"Friends, thank you for coming. I have very little time today, so please forgive me for not being able to make many small talk."

Bingbing smiled and said, "If it goes on for more than half an hour, my bandages and back brace might not be able to hold up, and then you'll have a big story to write about."

Applause and laughter erupted from the audience at the same time. As everyone looked at the leading lady in front of them, they seemed to discover something different about her.

Perhaps this is the epiphany and composure that someone who has died once should have.

"This morning and at noon, two other press conferences were held in Beiping. Thanks to everyone's publicity and broadcasting, we have basically learned about the relevant content."

"I think the question that everyone is most concerned about right now is, without directors Xiao Gang and Wu Ershan, who is left at Huayi?"

Will Huayi's path to listing be able to proceed as scheduled?

"I want to tell everyone a fact, a fact that I, as an employee who has worked at Huayi for nearly ten years, have witnessed—"

"Huayi's successful listing is not subject to the will of any particular director, actor, or management. The reason why all sectors of society and the CITIC Securities team have given us full trust and support is because we are the first listed film and cultural media company in the country."

"In other words, Huayi's listing is a result of the prosperity of the mainland film industry, a call of the times, a market-driven impetus, and a natural outcome of the steady development of the industry structure."

"We are heartbroken to lose Director Feng, because his film 'If You Are the One' is still dominating the Lunar New Year film season. Apart from Wenjie's 'Lost in Thailand,' it hasn't encountered any worthy competitors yet."

"Isn't this the biggest question on everyone's mind right now?"

Bingbing took a breath and said softly, "First of all, I would like to invite four directors to meet everyone. They are the backbone of our future."

As the female CEOs' names were read out one by one, the reporters' eyes lit up.

"Mr. Xu Zheng, a well-known actor and director of the 'Love Transfer' series!"

"Mr. Lu Yang, a director who graduated from the Pan-Asia Film Academy!"

"Ms. Xue Xiaolu, a contracted director with Yuanwenjie and a representative of domestic youth films and television dramas!"

"as well as--"

The three individuals mentioned above, except for Xu Zheng, have already sparked much speculation among reporters.

Lu Yang, who had just returned from the Avatar film crew, was a member of the Pan-Asia Film Academy, which meant he was one of Boss Lu's people.

There is no doubt that Xue Xiaolu is a director from the Beijing Film Academy and the Wenjie Department. Her previous work was "Meteor Shower," which made Jing Tian a minor celebrity.

It wasn't until the last Hong Kong director, whose hair was slightly gray, appeared that the reporters really started snapping photos like crazy!

Stephen Chow?
Feng Xiaogang left, and Zhou Xingchi came?

Not only did they not lose money, they even made a small profit. Considering Feng Xiaogang's works after "If You Are the One," they were practically huge successes!

A list of Pants' films after "If You Are the One":

There will be no "If You Are the One 2" in 2009, as the copyright already belongs to Huayi Brothers.

There will never be another "Aftershock" from 2010, and the original film had mediocre box office and critical reception. The forced tear-jerking and presentation of suffering were uncomfortable.
The 2012 film "Back to 1942" was of decent quality, but its subject matter and release date conflicted. With an investment of 210 million yuan, the production company actually received 120 million yuan in revenue, and even after adding other income, it still suffered a loss of more than 70 million yuan.
Of the films that followed, "Personal Tailor," which received very poor reviews, won the Lunar New Year box office championship, while "Youth" was just average.

The rest, such as "I Am Not Madame Bovary" and "Only Cloud Knows", are low-budget art films that prey on Bingbing, who is eager to become a movie star and walk the red carpet.

Midway through, "Cell Phone 2" encountered a major black swan event, and from then on, Xiao Gang fell into decline.

A 2025 film aimed at women titled "Sunflower" has essentially no sound or visuals.

The reporters at the scene, of course, had no idea that Xiao Gang's gradual decline was not only his own, but also the parabolic trajectory of Chinese cinema.

Even if they don't know the future trend of Feng Xiaogang, a high-performing stock, they still acknowledge Zhou Xingchi's status and influence.

From 2008 to 2016, he directed three films, all of which won the Lunar New Year box office championship.

"CJ7", "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons", and "The Mermaid", the latter of which set a record for Chinese film box office at the time with 33.92 billion yuan.

The reporters were all excitedly taking notes, marveling at the major reshuffling of mainland Chinese films, but they had no idea why Stephen Chow would suddenly become a collaborating director with Huayi Brothers.

The directors on stage began to speak one by one, and the mysteries were revealed one by one.

Xue Xiaolu stood beside Bingbing under the guise of shaking hands with her, but in reality, she was supporting the shaky leading lady: "Dear friends, Bingbing and I plan to collaborate on a female-led idol drama in 09, which tells the love story between an ancient person who has lived for hundreds of years and a popular modern female star."

"The costumes, props, and sets of this TV series will still follow the style of 'Meteor Shower' and will develop in the same way. The estimated investment is over 8000 million RMB!"

"It will be broadcast live on Travel Channel, Zhijie Video, and Netflix platforms in South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia, becoming the first domestic idol drama to be launched on Netflix!"

Xue Xiaolu paused, then joked, "You'll see some familiar faces too. I'll invite actors I've worked with before, like Yi Fei and Tian Tian, ​​to make cameo appearances or play supporting roles, and even some of my friends from my old company, Wenjie—"

"There might even be a tour guide!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience, followed by thunderous applause.

By now, everyone understands: this is a demonstration, a counterattack, a vindication, and a response to the two press conferences held this morning.

The first thing they did was put on a TV series with an investment of 8000 million yuan. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it was a follow-up to the "Meteor Shower" model. But with a fashion queen like Fan Bingbing in the cast, the boost to Wenjie Mall was quite different.

On the surface, Wenjie has no connection with Huayi, but the shadow of that man is everywhere.

It doesn't matter where Xue Xiaolu is; it's just a matter of name. What Boss Lu wants is synergy across the entire industry.

Xu Zheng and Lu Yang introduced themselves one after the other, with the latter announcing a project: "Hello everyone, I will be officially graduating from the Pan-Asia Film Academy next year. With the sincere invitation of President Fan and the encouragement of the teachers at the academy, I will officially launch my first feature film in 09."

"A martial arts film called 'Brotherhood of Blades' is a joint production of Japanese and Korean investors, including Huayi Brothers, Wenjie Film Studio, China Film Group, and the Pan-Asia Film Academy. The film tells the story of the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Guards. The investment is around 4000 million yuan. Stay tuned!"

Applause erupted from the audience, who were all amazed by the remarkable move of this talented female CEO.

Having lost two formidable talents, they immediately replenished their ranks with fresh blood. Although it was a greenhorn recruited from the renowned Pan-Asian Film Academy, judging from their tone, the future overseas distribution had already been secured.

Anticipation grew, and finally it was the turn of the taciturn Stephen Chow to raise the microphone.

"Oh dear, I don't know what to say, I can't really say it." Stephen Chow seemed about to speak, which made the reporters below the stage burst into laughter.

Bingbing laughed and said, "Master Xing, let's be honest, who invited you here as a helper?"

"Who else could it be? The principal of our film academy, of course. I'm just a teacher here, and Lu Kuan said he'd dock my allowance if I didn't come! Does he already know I'm stingy?"

"Hahaha!"

The reporters laughed even harder. Recently, a "storm of criticism against Stephen Chow" has emerged in Hong Kong. Led by Mrs. Heung Chan Lan, various people who had been on good terms with or had enemies with Stephen Chow have jumped out to criticize him, creating a somewhat aggressive public opinion atmosphere.

However, he himself remained relatively calm, probably because these people were used to being criticized, and besides, the criticisms weren't entirely untrue.

Do I really like money?

Stephen Chow didn't seem too fond of the scene, and with a smile, he briefly said, "I recognized Lu Kuan when I filmed 'Kung Fu Hustle' in Chedun, Shanghai in 04."

"Later, he invited me to teach at the college. I initially refused, but later I found it quite interesting. Over the past few years, I've had some exchanges with Lu Yang, Guo Fan, and a few others."

"It was probably last week when someone from Huayi contacted me and gave me a script. It was supposedly a sequel to 'A Chinese Odyssey'..."

"Wow!"

His narration was interrupted by a gasp from the audience, because this film, which was not well received when it was first released, has become a masterpiece in the internet age.

Stephen Chow continued, "I quite like this script. It's tentatively called 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.' I've agreed to sign with Huayi Brothers as a project director. There aren't too many restrictions on either side, so we can take it slow."

"Oh? Bingbing? That's all."

The leading actress beamed with joy: "Thank you, Mr. Stephen Chow. I hope our collaboration can continue indefinitely."

An idol drama with an investment of nearly 8000 million yuan, which is even twice the amount of "If You Are the One";

"Brotherhood of Blades," a martial arts film with a budget of 4000 million yuan, is the debut work of Lu Yang, a freshman at the Pan-Asian Film Academy.
There's also Stephen Chow, whose box office success and star power are unparalleled in the Chinese-speaking world.

Compared to Feng Xiaogang, who also makes comedy films, the latter's core jokes and influence basically don't extend beyond the Yangtze River, but Stephen Chow's influence can cover the entire Greater China region.

At today's press conference, apart from Stephen Chow's brief mention of Wenjie and Boss Lu at the end, the reporters present were basically unable to spot Voldemort's presence.

But no matter how you look at it, it seems like Huayi was drained and then given a shot of adrenaline by that man.

We really have no choice but to fight.

On the one hand, it's about helping Bingbing get started and giving him a boost; on the other hand, it's about ensuring that the shares he holds are successfully listed and pledged for cash.

Overseas CDS returns are gradually realized starting from March, which takes a long time.

However, the online ticketing battle will begin in February. Having missed the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival seasons, Valentine's Day will be the peak movie season in the first half of 2009.

The fierce competition in movie ticketing was not like the food delivery industry of later generations, where consumption happens every day. Around 08 and 09, the domestic market saw a lack of noteworthy films in terms of both quantity and quality during the off-season.

It is precisely for this reason that Huayi's cinema chain business could only be transferred to Wenjie after the company went public and the board of directors reached a unanimous decision to complete the transaction.

Of course, if Lu Kuan is willing, not selling at all will not pose any obstacles; on the contrary, it can help to conceal his intentions.

Because Huayi is now basically Bingbing's personal fiefdom, which is not much different from him directly controlling it.

In other words, all the work related to the scheduling of films in Huayi Brothers' cinemas is now under the supervision of Gao Jun, whom he appointed.

Bingbing continued, holding up the microphone: "Dear friends, Huayi's key projects for next year are these three. In addition, Zhou Xun and Huang Xiaoming have been basically confirmed to star in Director Lu's 'Ball Lightning,' which will be a groundbreaking Chinese science fiction masterpiece. Please look forward to it."

"For more related information, please follow our official Weibo account."

As the press conference drew to a close, before the reporters could even reflect on the dramatic division of Jin into three companies, they were stunned by a completely transformed new company.

Bingbing's body really can't withstand too much exertion, so there won't be a Q&A session today; the leading lady will wrap things up herself.

"Regarding the equity issue of Huayi, I would like to make a public announcement here. The equity transaction contracts of Mr. Wang, Director Feng, Mr. Ma, Wu Ershan, Li Binbin and others who have already left have been completed."

"I personally hold a total of 45.7% of the shares. According to the contract, the share transfer fee will be paid to the other departing shareholders within one month."

The reporters were all dumbfounded, not only because they were surprised that Bingbing had completely transformed from a hard-working actress into the head of a major domestic film company;
Furthermore, everyone knows how extravagant this equity transfer fee is.

In 2004, Sina, Yahoo! China, and Tom.com invested in Huayi, valuing 30% of the shares at US$1500 million. Based on this, 1% of the company's shares were valued at approximately US$50.

After several share issuances and the company's expansion and improved profitability, the current price of 1% is around 2000 million RMB.

Bingbing acquired shares from various sources for a total price of nearly 800 million RMB. She herself could only contribute a little over 100 million RMB of her own wealth, with the rest borrowed from various parties.

Fortunately, this money, after circulating in the stock market, will inflate to an astonishing degree.

Those who "deserted" at the press conferences this morning and noon will not have the chance to enjoy such the fruits of victory.

First, they had a long-standing rift with the new company and were incompatible; second, the time travelers would not allow these people to reap the benefits without sowing, even if it meant delaying the IPO.

After all, he invested a certain amount of resources in this Xinhua Art.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have one last announcement to make." Bingbing held up the microphone: "We have resubmitted our application for market access to the China Securities Regulatory Commission and expect to receive a response within seven working days."

"Please look forward to the celebratory moment when China's first film company goes public, and by the way—"

"Huayi Brothers Co., Ltd. will be officially renamed, and the relevant business registration has been completed."

The reporters couldn't help but ask, "Bingbing, what's the name of the new company?"

Wuyue Culture Media.

The reporters whispered amongst themselves, but Bingbing clearly had no intention of explaining the origin of the company name and had already turned and left with heavy yet light steps.

Wuyue is May, the season when she first met the time traveler, and also the twenty-year-old who would hold her captive.

From now on, I can only bury it deep in my heart.

. . .

The year 2008 was an eventful one, marked by turbulent times, unpredictable events, and dramatic ups and downs.

From the snowstorms at the beginning of the year to the devastation, from the Olympic Games to the financial crisis, from the Huayi equity dispute to the bloody clashes at the end of the year, it seems as if the hand of fate has been wielding its brush freely throughout the year, splashing all the joys and sorrows, the rise and fall, the glory and the disgrace onto the canvas of the times.

On the last day of 2008, the entire Chinese film industry held its breath, watching the three consecutive press conferences held by Wanda, LeTV, and Wuyue. They were like three bombshells, completely shattering the old structure of the industry.

Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier giant has left everyone else in the dust.
The close alliance between challenger Wanda and Damai.cn;

The powerful entry of black gold behind LeEco Culture;
And established powerhouses like Wuyue and the Fiber Optic Berna Alliance are hot on their heels.

As the film industry becomes increasingly integrated with internet marketing and video websites, people both inside and outside the industry can't help but feel a deep sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling or reflection):
The golden age of Chinese cinema is about to burst forth at the historical juncture of 2008!

The 2.0 era of Chinese entertainment has officially begun!
(End of this chapter)