This director lacks vision.

Chapter 242 Strange Things in the Pacific Rim
Hastings is not only good at managing companies, but also has a keen eye for strategic transformation and is very timely.

Starting in 2007, Netflix, under his leadership, transformed into an online video website.

This year, Netflix went even further, announcing that it would completely cut off its DVD rental business and focus entirely on developing its streaming service.

His choice was right, but the transition will be painful.

This is reflected in the stock price, which is that Netflix's stock price fell by 82%.

This puts a lot of pressure on Hastings.

After all, Hastings owns very little of Netflix, less than 1%, and relies mainly on management systems and the founder's prestige for management.

With the stock price continuing to fall, the board of directors must have something to say, and there are already calls to replace the CEO.

Hastings's statement that he planned to visit Jiang Yifeng was not just a polite remark, but a genuine one.

After all, there are very few directors in the world who love making web series as much as Jiang Yifeng.

Jiang Yifeng's drama didn't do very well when it aired in North America.

However, it still has considerable influence in the Pan-Asian region.

In particular, the recently aired first season of Pacific Rim has attracted a considerable number of European subscribers on YouTube.

Jiang Yifeng's emergence not only helped Sohu Video take off, but also helped YouTube's "Show Theater" gain many subscribers.

Although YouTube has created "show theaters," its main business is still videos uploaded by various video bloggers.

Therefore, Jiang Yifeng is not taken very seriously.

From YouTube's perspective, there are many video bloggers on the platform, and Jiang Yifeng is just one of them.

But for Netflix, Jiang Yifeng's value is completely different.

Netflix's online website primarily offers movie and TV show subscriptions.

They urgently need to collaborate with reliable directors to produce a series of high-quality films and television dramas to attract more customers to subscribe and thus boost their stock price.

In terms of business competition, Netflix and YouTube's "Show Theater" are competitors.

The value of Jiang Yifeng was not fully understood by YouTube's "pig teammates," but Netflix, its competitor, felt it deeply.

Leaving aside the North American market, Netflix could gain a significant number of subscribers in the Pan-Asian and European markets simply by partnering with Jiang Yifeng.

Hastings is well aware of this, so he reiterated: "We plan to invest 1 million US dollars to produce two or three high-quality TV series to attract new users."

You helped Sohu Video become number one in the Chinese market and brought millions of subscribers to YouTube's "Show Theater," making you an expert in this field.

You are one of my most admired directors, and I value working with you.

Hastings's speaking style is characterized by its directness, enthusiasm, and strong persuasiveness.

Jiang Yifeng neither confirmed nor denied it, but instead asked in return, "Have you seen Pacific Rim?"

Hastings said, "I've watched the Pacific Rim show three times, and I've also read the comic book."

Besides that, I've also seen all the Dark Glory and Hunting videos you filmed.

I've watched all of your films, including Lost in Journey and Back to 20, as well as some of your earlier comedies and short videos.

I really love your "Waiting" series; it's so touching!

It must be said that Hastings was very sincere and had carefully studied Jiang Yifeng.

Jiang Yifeng nodded and said, "Actually, I do have an idea."

Hastings sat up straight. "Go on."

"If you've seen Pacific Rim, you'll know that the alien creatures actually appeared many years ago, but they were kept secret."

So I want to use this subject matter to make a fantasy drama for teenagers, blending the thriller Cthulhu style with government conspiracy theories against the backdrop of the Cold War, setting the story in the small town of Omega in the 80s, and then stirring up a wave of nostalgia.

The show is called Pacific Rim: Stranger Things.

Stranger Things is one of Netflix's most popular series, especially in North America and Europe.

The development of its IP-related products has generated profits of over 10 billion US dollars.

This show tells the story of Will, a small-town boy who mysteriously disappears. His friends, family, and local police begin searching for him. With the appearance of Eleven, a girl with superpowers, various mysterious events gradually unfold.

After a series of events, everyone finally understood the truth: a secret government experiment had opened a portal to the reverse world, releasing cannibalistic monsters.

Stranger Things is a Frankenstein's monster, a blend of various settings and plots.

Many of the settings in this show would be very suitable for the Pacific Rim.

There are also various laboratories conducting human experiments in the Pacific Rim, and there is also an alternate world where the test subjects have certain supernatural abilities.

If Jiang Yifeng can grasp the key to the success of Strange Things, narrow the perspective, amplify the suspense and horror, and create a three-layered narrative structure while restoring the core of the characters, he will be able to achieve success.

For Jiang Yifeng, the most difficult part of making a good Strange Things film was to recreate the lifestyle of a small American town in the 80s.

If Netflix could help, that would be the best outcome.

If Stranger Things in the Pacific Rim succeeds in the United States, then the Pacific Rim IP will definitely be established in North America and gradually become deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Jiang Yifeng could also incorporate films like "The Witch" into the Pacific Rim framework to enrich the world setting and characters.

Jiang Yifeng's goal is to make the Pacific Rim a major global IP.

He takes this very seriously.

Jiang Yifeng's original plan was to film Stranger Things again in 2013 and broadcast it on YouTube.

Now that Netflix has approached us with great sincerity, collaborating with Netflix to advance the Stranger Things project is a very good option.

Moreover, if Stranger Things becomes a huge hit and Netflix's market value recovers, then Jiang Yifeng will become the hero who "saved" Netflix, and it will also be a successful display of arrogance.

Upon hearing Jiang Yifeng's idea, Hastings wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he inquired further and asked Jiang Yifeng several questions. Stranger Things felt somewhat contrived, and Hastings felt the risks were too high.

Jiang Yifeng said, "This drama is a co-production between our two companies. If you are not comfortable with it, Fengxing Media can contribute 60% of the investment, and you can contribute 40%."

I have a lot of confidence in this drama.

Moreover, I own a special effects company. The special effects for Pacific Rim were done by my company, and the cost was only one-third of that in the United States.

This can effectively help Stranger Things save costs.

Upon hearing this, Hastings immediately said, "Then let's each contribute half of the investment."

Hastings is a decisive person; once he makes a decision, he wants to execute it immediately.

But there's no script yet, so it's all too early to say.

Jiang Yifeng, however, said, "I will be filming a movie in Europe next year. If possible, we can choose a small town in Europe and set up the scene there in advance."

After I finished filming the movie, I started filming Stranger Things.

Hastings said, "Could we film Stranger Things first?"

Netflix's stock price is in dire straits, and Hastings wants to see results as soon as possible to boost the stock price and also to boost the confidence of the company's team.

Jiang Yifeng nodded and said, "Okay, then let's tentatively start filming in March or April next year. I will send a producer representative to discuss all the details with you."

Stranger Things targets the European and American markets, and even the North American market, so it's fine to film it first.

If Stranger Things is successful, Jiang Yifeng will gain some recognition in Europe and America, and the subsequent release of John Wick overseas will benefit the film's box office.

They chatted for another two hours and exchanged contact information before Hastings left. He was planning to buy the rights to the novel "House of Cards" and find a famous director to adapt it into a TV series.

Watching Hastings leave, Jing Tian asked curiously, "You seem to value Netflix a lot."

Jiang Yifeng asked, "How did you figure that out?"

Jing Tian raised an eyebrow smugly, "Many people want to collaborate with you, but you basically refuse them all."

And this Hastings, you reached a cooperation agreement on your first meeting, shouldn't you value him?
However, I think you should still be cautious.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yifeng immediately clasped his hands in a fist and asked, "What do you mean? What are your thoughts, Lady Tian Tian?"

Jing Tian was amused by Jiang Yifeng and giggled, causing her strength to fluctuate.

She said, "YouTube and Netflix are competitors. If you cooperate with Netflix, YouTube will definitely have objections."

You also have an account on YouTube with over ten million followers; this is a foundation that you worked hard to build.

What if YouTube gets upset and bans or limits your traffic? Wouldn't you end up with nothing?

Netflix was in a terrible state at that time and couldn't compare to YouTube. It's normal that Jing Tian, ​​who wasn't reborn, couldn't see Netflix's potential.

Jiang Yifeng wrapped his arm around Jing Tian's small waist and caressed it a couple of times; it was round and elastic.

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. We currently have Sohu Video and YouTube as our partners, and it would be even better to have Netflix as well."

This is the United States; strength speaks volumes.

If I don't demonstrate any real ability, YouTube will only think my success is entirely dependent on their platform and won't take me seriously.

Jing Tian nodded and said, "That makes sense, does it?"

"Ugh, this is too complicated! It's not for me."

Seeing Jing Tian's adorable appearance, Jiang Yifeng laughed and joked, "Your flaw is that you're brainless."

Jing Tian asked, "What are your advantages? Is it your looks?"

"No, the advantage is that it requires very little brainpower, which perfectly avoids the disadvantage."

Jing Tian: "..."

Knowing she couldn't win an argument with Jiang Yifeng after being teased, Jing Tian immediately retaliated.

The little fist landed on Jiang Yifeng, loosening his muscles.

After the two joked around for a while, Jing Tian asked again, "Who do you want to play the role in Stranger Things this time?"
Could it be Shu Chang or Liu Yifei?

Jiang Yifeng shook his head and said, "No, they are too old. Besides, Stranger Things is mainly aimed at the European and American markets. There won't be any Chinese faces in the first season. They will all be European and American actors."

Jiang Yifeng takes IP development seriously and insists on adhering to market rules.

Stranger Things is a new series, and to attract the largest possible audience from Europe and America, it's impossible to use Chinese actors.

This results in a poor sense of immersion for European and American viewers, which will affect the ratings.

Stranger Things' primary goal is to enrich the Pacific Rim setting and make the IP known to European and American audiences.

If we're really going to add characters of Chinese descent, we'll wait until the first season is a huge hit, and then add them as appropriate later on.

Hearing Jiang Yifeng's words, Jing Tian breathed a sigh of relief.

In Jing Tian's view, the Pacific Rim series is her home turf, and she doesn't want Liu Yifei or Shu Chang to interfere.

Seeing Jiang Yifeng working hard to build the Pacific Rim IP, Jing Tian felt very happy and sweet.

She felt this showed how much Jiang Yifeng valued her.

This treatment was unique among all of Jiang Yifeng's women.

Because of the Netflix incident, Jiang Yifeng stayed in the United States for three more days.

It wasn't until the evening of September 8th that I finally flew back to Yanjing.

After a two-day break, Jiang Yifeng resumed work. Pacific Rim Season 2 was ready to begin filming.

(End of this chapter)