Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 146 Investing in Movies (Third Update, Please Subscribe and Vote)
"How did your initial negotiations go?" Li Song nodded upon hearing this.

"We didn't discuss it much in the early stages, mainly because the filming is on Hong Kong Island, and the costs are a bit hard to control!"

"After all, everyone from top to bottom is one of their people!"

"Anyway, there's a lot of murky stuff going on in filmmaking!" Liu Jiale replied.

Li Song was well aware that making movies was a complex business, but he simply focused on investing and receiving a percentage of the box office revenue.

"We've now reached seven million, which is five percent of the box office," Liu Jiale added.
"This price is acceptable!" Li Song felt that the price was perfectly reasonable!
Of course, this cannot be compared with novel copyright.

It's not that the film rights to a novel are worth a certain amount.

The reason why Golden Harvest's novels have such a high share of the film box office revenue is...

The main reason is that they are attracted by the novel's influence and want to secure a certain box office guarantee in Hong Kong.

Besides, there's no upfront investment required; the rest is just a share of the box office revenue.

If you lose money, then lose less; of course, if you want to make a big profit, then make less!
But no one can guarantee that a movie will make money.

Many of them flopped at the box office!
If Golden Harvest were to actually spend several million dollars to acquire the film rights, they certainly wouldn't be willing, since that's real cash.

“Boss, favors also come with a price. You did them a huge favor by calling Lucas,” Liu Jiale added.

"Let's talk about it again then," Li Song nodded.

The owner of Golden Harvest and Ah Long arrived at the magazine office twenty minutes earlier than the agreed time.

"Tsk tsk!"

"From an author to the owner of a magazine, and with the magazine selling well outside the city, Uncle San only took a few months. The magazine's annual advertising revenue is at least 20 million." Boss Zou and Ah Long arrived downstairs at the magazine office and looked at the bustling scene in Central, and said with emotion.

Ah Long nodded upon hearing this: "Third Uncle's novels are really good. Third Uncle knows so much. I heard that after Third Uncle's magazine opened here, the office rent went up."

Mr. Zou nodded: "However, the magazine also has a big drawback, which is that it only has Uncle San as its pillar. If there is no successor, it is hard to say what will happen."

The two took the elevator to the magazine office. Upon seeing them, the receptionist immediately called Liu Jiale: "General Manager Liu, Boss Zou and Ah Long have arrived."

Then the receptionist quickly said to the two guests, "Mr. Zou, Mr. Chen, please come in."

The two followed the receptionist inside. As Mr. Zou observed the magazine's interior design, he noticed that the lighting and ventilation were excellent, and there was even a fish tank in the office area. He wondered if there was a deeper meaning behind it.

"Mr. Zou, welcome, welcome! I'm sorry for not greeting you sooner. I'm the owner of the magazine, my surname is Li." Then Mr. Zou saw a young man arrive with Liu Jiale. Before he could think of anything, the young man clasped his hands in greeting.

"Ah..." Boss Zou was also quite taken aback.

Ah Long stared wide-eyed. This tall, handsome young man, over 1.8 meters tall, was the magazine's owner?

It doesn't seem fake, because there are many employees working here.

"Oh dear, my apologies, my apologies! I didn't expect Uncle to be so young." Boss Zou reacted quickly and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Mr. Zou, you're too kind. This way, please."

"Mr. Zou, Mr. Chen!" Liu Jiale greeted the two men at this moment.

"Mr. Liu." The group arrived at the reception room.

Boss Zou first carefully examined the layout of the room before speaking, "I really didn't expect that the famous Third Uncle would be so young and handsome. It's true that talent emerges in every generation."

"Mr. Zou, Mr. Chen, please have a seat." "Mr. Zou, you're too kind. I never expected to become famous just by writing what I wanted to write. Before, it was a hobby, but now it's become my job. I feel like I've put shackles on myself." Li Song invited the two to sit down.

Liu Jiale personally poured tea for the two of them, and Li Song said, "Brother Le, you've worked hard. I'm not usually here, so I don't even have a secretary."

"Thank you, Mr. Liu!" The two thanked Liu Jiale in return.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation. I thought Uncle San would be a bit older, so I sent some tonics, but I didn't expect Mr. Li to be so young." As Mr. Zou spoke, he had Ah Long take out the gifts he had brought.

"Mr. Zou, you're too kind."

"Many thanks to Mr. Li for his help this time. I owe my trip to Hollywood to him; otherwise, I would have lost all face," Mr. Zou said again.

"It was also by chance," Li Song replied.

"Mr. Li, you're too kind. Lucas asked me to pass on a message, saying that he's a little angry that you didn't call the number he left for you, and that he'll be coming to Hong Kong Island again later."

"Haha, I think phone bills are too expensive."

"I didn't expect Mr. Li to be so humorous."

“Mr. Li, if Lucas comes to Hong Kong Island, and if it’s convenient, I’d like to treat him to a meal to thank him. He solved our problem with just two phone calls. Hollywood is too xenophobic.”

“Zou Sheng, nobody wants others to share their profits. Besides, how can they show that they are the best if they don’t do that?”

“Mr. Li is right. I plan to invest HK$3000 million in this filming to build some real sets and props,” Mr. Zou said.

Scary!

The box office at that time was only a little over ten million Hong Kong dollars. But Mr. Zou had big ambitions and wanted to create another Bruce Lee. As long as Bruce Lee made a name for himself in Hollywood, then everything would be worth it.

“If Mr. Li is willing, how about an investment of ten million Hong Kong dollars and a 10% share of the box office? In Hollywood, the film company takes 45% of the revenue for a movie, and the rest goes to distribution, theaters, etc. So this percentage is not low,” Mr. Zou said.

“Mr. Zou, this is a bit off. With an investment of 30 million, even if the film company takes 45%, shouldn’t I still have 15%?” Li Song shook his head.

“Mr. Li, I’m talking about the theory. The distribution fees for Hong Kong films going to Hollywood are much, much higher,” Mr. Zou continued.

“But I also took a risk. Ten million Hong Kong dollars, how much is the box office in Hong Kong?” Li Song said.

"11%, that's the most we can do," Mr. Zou said.

"Mr. Zou, 15%. I'll contact Lucas later. This is a real favor that money can't buy. Plus, I still owe one person, so this is two."

"I'm sure Mr. Zou has already experienced Hollywood's xenophobia. What if he gets ripped off by them when it comes to distribution, theaters, and so on?" Li Song didn't back down at all.

“Mr. Li, you also invested, and you get a share of the script revenue. If that’s the case, you’ll be getting 25% of the box office,” Mr. Zou said.

“Mr. Zou, you should broaden your horizons. What is the main purpose of making this movie? It’s Ah Long.”

“Logically speaking, 15% is too low, because I’m the one paying to help you push Ah Long to Hollywood. If Ah Long succeeds, will you still be short of money, Mr. Zou?” Li Song said again.

"That's true, but..." Boss Zou was already convinced by Li Song, after all, it was a real ten million.

Moreover, the larger the percentage of the profits Li Song takes, the more attentive he will be to helping. What he lacks now is connections. Boss Zou is also aware of the situation inside Hollywood. It's the same in the Hong Kong circle. All sorts of things can happen, from filming to publicity.

"Okay, then let's have 15% of the box office revenue from the ten million," Mr. Zou said.

(End of this chapter)