1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 194: Daughter Sings a Medley, Chen Fusheng Has a Bold Idea (Please Subscribe!)
Li Hanxiang's team arrived faster than Chen Fusheng had anticipated, arriving at Dongfang Company the day after his meeting.

"Director Li, welcome, welcome."

"Haha, thank you, Director Chen. I've heard so much about you before, but I never had the chance. I'm so glad to finally meet you today."

"I have heard a lot about Director Li, and meeting you today is like meeting my idol."

The two exchanged compliments upon meeting, and then Chen Fusheng led Li Hanxiang and his entourage to the conference room.

After the staff served tea, the conversation gradually got back on track.

"Director Chen, do you have any objections to this collaboration?" Feng Bin, the general manager of Kunlun Film and Television Company, confirmed Chen Fusheng's opinion again before the formal discussion.

As for this Kunlun Film and Television, it is not the Kunlun Film and Television that was acquired by Shanghai Film Studio in history, but a project company specifically established by the Hong Kong branch of the news agency for Li Hanxiang's two film projects.

"No, no, Liao Gong told me all about it at the ministry yesterday," Chen Fusheng said, taking a breath. "I'm just a little surprised you arrived so quickly!"

"It was a bit sudden, but we wanted to reach a cooperation agreement with Director Chen and your Oriental Company as soon as possible and then make the movie."

As a time traveler, Chen Fusheng knew that the two films they brought were not produced in response to the national campaign to create positive energy films; otherwise, they wouldn't have been made so quickly. They just happened to run into the line of fire.

Moreover, this 'truth' is not only known to him, but also to Liao Gong and many other leaders, but does it matter?

it is not important.

The most important thing is that it aligns with the theme of this positive-energy film.

Therefore, in response to Feng Bin's explanation, Chen Fusheng nodded in agreement: "That makes sense."

Next, Li Hanxiang handed the two film project proposals he had brought to Chen Fusheng, and explained them in detail as Chen turned the pages.

Of course, what is explained in detail here is not the plot of the movie, but the original intention, concept, future shooting ideas, actor issues, funding issues, and so on of the two film projects.

As Chen Fusheng listened, he asked, "Director Li, you're planning to use the same team for both of your films, right?"

"That's right. The burning of the Yuanmingyuan tells the story of how, during the Xianfeng era, Cixi entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection process and won the favor of Emperor Xianfeng with her wisdom and skill, giving birth to a prince. At the same time, with the outbreak of the Second Opium War, the Anglo-French allied forces pressed forward step by step, eventually capturing Beijing, looting and burning the Yuanmingyuan, which symbolized the dignity of the royal family. Emperor Xianfeng was forced to flee to Rehe with his concubines."

Li Hanxiang continued, "The story of 'The Empress Dowager' tells of how Emperor Xianfeng died in Rehe and, before his death, appointed eight regents to assist the young Emperor Tongzhi. Then, Empress Dowager Cixi joined forces with princes to seize power and achieve her political goals through ruling from behind the curtain. It is a sequel to the previous film, 'The Burning of the Yuanmingyuan,' so I think it would be more reasonable to use the same team to film it."

"Hmm." Chen Fusheng nodded slightly after hearing this, and then gestured for Li Hanxiang to continue the introduction.

"As for the actors, I already have someone in mind to play Emperor Xianfeng. For the other roles, I plan to find them on the mainland."

Chen Fusheng had a vague guess, and with 'curiosity' asked to confirm, "Who is Director Li's choice for Emperor Xianfeng?"

"His name is Leung Ka-fai. He's a newcomer, and Director Chan probably doesn't know him. But he trained at TVB's artist training class for a year. Although he's never played a decent role, his acting skills are alright. Most importantly, his image is quite similar to the Xianfeng Emperor I know."

Chen Fusheng nodded secretly. It really was him!

"Regarding the selection of other roles, I can give priority to actors from Oriental Film Company."

Li Hanxiang originally intended to curry favor, but he didn't expect his words to make him a laughing stock.

Chen Fusheng didn't even need to remind him; the people from the news agency explained it for him.

"Director Li, Oriental Company doesn't have any actors yet."

Li Hanxiang: Why didn't you say so sooner? Why didn't you say so sooner?
Fortunately, directors all have one essential skill: thick skin.

This is especially true for great directors.

So Li Hanxiang just laughed it off and moved on from the matter.

This was indeed just a minor episode, and soon their negotiations moved on to the main event.

In other words, it's an investment issue.

"Your budget for the two movies is 2400 to 3000 million. Is that really necessary?" Chen Fusheng was shocked when he saw the budget in the project proposal. The cost was even more outrageous than his "Die Hard". Although it was two movies, this was in 1982, not twenty years later.

"Director Chen, it's Hong Kong dollars, not RMB."

Hearing that it was in Hong Kong dollars, Chen Fusheng breathed a sigh of relief. He then did a quick mental calculation. Even at the highest possible price, 30 million Hong Kong dollars was less than 10 million RMB. Anyone familiar with film budgets knows that making a grand and epic historical film is inherently expensive, and considering that the other party was making two films, Chen Fusheng felt that this budget was acceptable.

Once he accepted the film budget, the next thing to discuss was the crucial investment share.

Although this was the key to the negotiations, it didn't take up too much time or waste too much of everyone's breath.

Because this is not a business negotiation.

The final investment ratios for the two films are as follows.

Oriental Company: 66%.

Kunlun Film & Television: 33%.

Li Hanxiang: 1%.

Of course, Li Hanxiang's 1% share is his director's profit sharing.

"Regarding the film budget, I suggest starting with a total budget of 2400 million. If the crew runs into budget constraints during later filming, we can increase the investment based on the proportion of our investment today. What do you think, Mr. Feng and Director Li?"

"no problem."

"I don't have any objection either."

Both Feng Bin and Li Hanxiang expressed their opinions.

"Okay, then I wish us a successful collaboration."

"Smooth cooperation."

They shook hands across a table, marking the beginning of the first collaboration between Oriental Company and Kunlun Pictures.

Of course, the negotiations are not over yet, as there are still many details to be discussed...

……

In the afternoon, after both parties finished their discussions and signed the contract, more than half an hour had passed since their usual closing time.

But when Chen Fusheng returned home, his family was still waiting for him to have dinner.

He first apologized to his family, indicating that they should eat first in similar situations in the future, and then...

Before he could explain, his mother, Yang Hongmei, couldn't help but ask:
"You usually leave early, Fusheng, why are you so late today?"

Facing the curious gazes of the people at the table, Chen Fusheng sat down and explained, "Yesterday, Director Liao asked our Oriental Company to shoot two co-productions with the Hong Kong side. I didn't expect them to arrive this morning. We talked all day, and the contract was signed about twenty minutes ago."

"What co-production?" Liu Xiaoli asked on behalf of everyone.

"There are two books about the history of the late Qing Dynasty: one is called 'The Burning of the Yuanmingyuan,' and the other is called 'The Empress Dowager's Reign Behind the Curtain.'"

"Brother-in-law, who's the director? Are you directing it?"

"That's definitely not me. The director is Li Hanxiang, a famous director from Hong Kong, but I guess you don't know him."

"I really don't know them..."

Amidst the discussion of a group of adults, a child's voice suddenly rang out: "Dad, I know him."

Who do you know?

"I know Aunt Zhizhi."

Zhizhi had given Chen Qian two children's song cassettes before, and Chen Qian had listened to them quite a bit lately. So when she thought of her aunt, the girl couldn't help but hum the children's songs.

"La la la, la la la, I'm a little expert at selling newspapers, why are you carrying a little schoolbag, wa ha ha wa ha ha..."

Everyone was genuinely amused by Chen Qian's medley, but Chen Fusheng, listening to his daughter's clear voice, who was still half a month away from turning two, suddenly had a bold idea...

(End of this chapter)