Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 357 Big Red Envelope, Copyright Issues
At the celebration banquet, Chen Shou handed out the red envelopes he had arranged to those people.

Everyone beamed with joy upon receiving the red envelopes. The biggest red envelope wasn't given to the bald guy, nor to the director Wen Muye, but to the screenwriter Han Jianu.

"Keep this red envelope. After all, I've earned so much, this money is rightfully yours." Chen Shou handed the red envelope to Han Jia Nu.

Han Jianu pinched it and asked with a smile, "How much is inside?"

"Go back and see for yourself." Chen Shou smiled at Han Sanping behind her.

Han Sanping looked at his daughter with doting eyes. She was his only daughter, and everything he had done before was now coming back to her.

"Put it away." Han Sanping actually knew how much money was inside; it was a large sum of money.

Although it was independently produced by Chen Shouzhe, the credit for the film came from the pressure they faced during filming. The amount of money involved was exactly what Mrs. Yang received in the film.

Chen Shou was not stingy at all; he gave the money he had invested in a movie to Han Jia Nu.

"Are there any film plans next?" Han Sanping asked.

"Not yet, I'm going to Hollywood next month," Chen Shou said.

"It's not easy to make a living in Hollywood these days," Han Sanping said meaningfully.

Chen Shou nodded. He knew what Han Sanping meant. They had changed people over there last year, and it had been almost two years. Their strategy towards them had been unfriendly. In addition, he also had conflicts with Hollywood. If he won an Oscar, he guessed that person would say something.

Chen Shouzhe felt that this might be his last Oscar, and that it would be difficult for his future films to be screened there.

However, Hollywood also needs the domestic market, and Chen Shou is not afraid of being affected by this.

Han Jia Nu watched the two of them playing riddles and said, "Director Chen, good luck and win this year's Oscar!"

"I will try my best."

"Do you currently maintain a schedule of two films a year?" Han Sanping asked.

"Okay, let's keep this frequency going. As for the others, we'll see how they do it," Chen Shou said.

"Is there a plan to promote the main theme?" Han Sanping asked.

"To be honest, yes." Chen Shou nodded, and a glint seemed to flash in Han Sanping's slightly cloudy eyes.

"I know you don't like Director La, but China Film's distribution capabilities are still quite good," Han Sanping mentioned, still trying to ease the tension.

"Chairman Han, as you've seen, Wanda Pictures is now mine. See how quickly the withdrawal was made this time?" Chen Shou smiled.

Han Sanping nodded. Indeed, if China Film Group were to distribute it, the payment would be delayed, since it was a state-owned enterprise.

Those who take on these projects are well aware of this; they know it will be delayed and require a lot of approvals, which is why many people are now reluctant to take on these kinds of projects.

"Alright, Jia Nu, please take good care of me in the future."

"You're welcome."

Chen Shouzhe still held Zuo Shandiao in the highest esteem, just as he had said on stage this year.

I am very familiar with everyone on stage, including the directors present.

This statement made everyone present feel proud.

The two were still talking when a man with a full head of white hair walked over.

Anyone else would have been too intimidated to come over, since the two big shots were chatting, but this person's arrival drew the attention of many people present.

"Chairman Han, Director Chen."

The two were not strangers to each other; in fact, they were quite familiar with each other: Stephen Chow.

"Director Zhou." The two raised their glasses to Zhou Xingxing.

"Congratulations to both of you on the film's great success," Stephen Chow said with a broad smile.

Han Sanping was his benefactor. Back then, when he was targeted by that family in Hong Kong, who threatened to make it impossible for him to make a living in Hong Kong, Stephen Chow chose to go north to seek help. At that time, the only person who could reach out to protect him was Han Sanping, the head of China Film Group. It was also at that time that Stephen Chow began to embrace the mainland market.

Chen Shouzhe collaborated with him on kung fu, which helped him get out of his predicament and withstand the pressure from that family, allowing him to make a fortune.

He naturally had to attend the celebration banquet hosted by his two benefactors. In fact, he hadn't been invited; he had contacted Han Sanping himself to come to the banquet.

Neither of them spoke, both waiting for Zhou Xingxing. If he came over on his own initiative, it must be because he had something to say. Han Sanping knew that Zhou Xingxing had something to discuss with Chen Shouzhe, and he didn't intend to leave; he was just curious.

It's a bad habit he developed when he was chairman; he wants to participate in every project. Otherwise, who did Chairman La learn this from?

Han Sanping gets involved and provides assistance. For example, he supported Stephen Chow's movies despite pressure from Hong Kong and provided him with a lot of convenience.

If it were La Dong, he wouldn't do that; at most, he would act as a peacemaker.

Seeing that Han Sanping had no intention of leaving, Zhou Xingxing could only look at Chen Shouzhe and ask, "Director Chen, does what you said before still stand?"

Chen Shouzhe remembered that during the promotion of "The Mermaid" in the first half of the year, Stephen Chow mentioned it to him. At the celebration banquet, Stephen Chow also mentioned this, which made his company's stock rise a lot, and he made a lot of money.

"I remember, you finished your script?" Chen Shou asked.

"It's all done. Director Chen, do you have time?"

"Tomorrow, come to my company tomorrow."

"Okay, then tomorrow."

Zhou Xingxing took a sip of his wine, gestured to Han Sanping, and then turned and walked away.

As soon as Stephen Chow left, Han Sanping said softly, "I remember he said at the last celebration banquet that he would work with you again. Was it him who provided the script this time?"

“Yes.” Chen Shouzhe nodded. Han Jianu, who was next to him, looked at Chen Shouzhe curiously. She had heard everything just now and was filled with surprise. She also believed that her father thought the same way as her.

"He wants to collaborate with you on his script? What does he see in you? Could it be an animated film script?" Han Sanping and Yang Shoucheng were just as puzzled as they were, wondering why Stephen Chow's script would lead them to collaborate with Chen Shouzhe.

If Stephen Chow were to produce a script now, there would be no shortage of film companies eager to collaborate with him. Even Huayi Brothers, which had previously cheated him, would be willing to turn back if given enough money.

Why cooperate with Chen Shouzhe, especially since Chen Shouzhe's approval is clearly required?

Even though the film industry is now a giant in the mainland film industry and the most profitable production company, it shouldn't have made him so humble.

"It's not an animated film."

"What does he need from you?"

"His script requires my company's copyright."

"Oh? Is it an adaptation of some work, or a sequel?"

The father and daughter were curious, and they thought it might be "Kung Fu Hustle 2" or "The Mermaid 2", since both of these films were made by Stephen Chow and were directed by Stephen Chow.

People have been asking if there will be a sequel for a long time. Given Stephen Chow's love of money, it's quite possible that he will make sequels to these two films.

Making money is a legal endeavor, nothing shameful about it.

"He wanted the license for Journey to the West, specifically the Women's Kingdom segment, but I didn't give it to him. He said he'd write his own script, and I agreed. I'll take a look at his script first." Chen Shou said it directly. Han Sanping was no longer a director of China Film Group, so even if he knew, he couldn't accept it like before. It didn't matter if he said it.

"Journey to the West... quite an appetite." Han Sanping finally understood why Stephen Chow was so humble; he still needed someone's help.

(End of this chapter)