Hong Kong Film Intelligence King

Chapter 139 The First Director of Qiankun Film and Television
Time flies, and it's Monday again.

The chubby boy came over to greet Wang Dao as soon as he entered the company:

"Brother Dao, you're amazing!"

"Our movie's weekend box office really did reach two million!"

At this moment, the chubby boy looked at Wang Dao as if he were looking at an idol.

He knew his film was of good quality, after all, the script had been carefully polished, his fellow apprentices helped him, and even his father, Wang Dalin, helped with the storyboard.

The chubby boy also had a vague feeling that this script would be a box office hit!
Even so, he never expected it to gross two million at the box office!

What does a box office of two million mean?
Unless the word-of-mouth completely collapses, it can basically gross six or seven million in box office revenue over thirty-five days.

What does it mean?

This is definitely a top ten film of the year!
Can the chubby kid believe that his first movie can become one of the top ten highest-grossing movies of the year?

He really didn't dare to think about it.

So even a casual remark from Wang Dao three days ago could make the chubby boy feel terrified.

But now, the two million box office revenue has become a reality.

The little fat boy walks with a limp!
(In fact, his first film was indeed "The King of Gamblers," which was among the top ten highest-grossing films of the year.)
Wang Dao shrugged:

"Didn't I tell you already? But you just keep thinking about things that aren't your business."

"Will you sign that contract with that big-name director?"

The chubby boy nodded vigorously:

"sign!"

He scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

"I was afraid that I wouldn't meet your requirements and that I would disappoint you."

Wang Dao casually took out the contract and pushed it in front of the chubby boy:
"You think I'm lying?"

"We are, after all, a legitimate film and television company, and we have a fairly professional ability to predict the box office performance of our films."

The calculations provided by the intelligence system are more authoritative than those of any other department!
In other words, he didn't bet on the box office; otherwise, he would have dared to wager his entire fortune against someone.

Pooh!
He is mortal with gambling and drugs.

The chubby boy grinned foolishly:

"I was ignorant."

Wang Dao pointed to the big director's contract and said:

"Look carefully, after signing this contract, your annual salary will be 400,000, and you will receive 50,000 in director's fees for each movie you shoot."

"You need to shoot at least five films for the company every year."

The chubby boy was overjoyed:
"Doesn't that mean I can earn 600,000 a year?"

Wang Dao rolled his eyes:
"Get out!"

“Dragon Way can earn up to four million for a single movie.”

The chubby boy pouted:

"That's all hype. They've been making it public that he's already received four million, but in reality, he'd be lucky to get two million."

"How much of a movie that grosses tens of millions at the box office will the investors get?"

"At most 45%, which means that out of 10 million in box office revenue, the investors can only get 4.5 million."

"This includes all the production costs. If we give Longwei four million, they'll probably lose money!"

Wang Dao stared blankly at the chubby boy:
Do you think I should believe what you say?

The chubby boy chuckled:
“Even though Hong Kong is a special case, there are basically no actors who can afford to pay him that much.”

The news about Longwei is actually true.

Under normal circumstances, a box office of four million would result in a huge loss.

However, this was not a typical situation.

There are two major forces in the Hong Kong film industry: one is Uncle Six of TVB Jade; the other is Uncle Six's rival, Boss Zou.

These two individuals are both investors and producers of the film.

What's even weirder is that each of them has a major cinema chain!

For a small filmmaker making a movie, not counting costs, they're lucky if they get 45% of the box office revenue.

However, those two bosses, apart from paying 8% tax to the Hong Kong government, will keep the rest of the box office revenue.

In other words, if a movie grosses ten million, they can keep nine million two hundred thousand. So, they can still afford to pay Longwei four million in salary.

When the two big shots were fighting, Longwei actually got a good deal.

Such a salary is unique.

The chubby boy's statement would definitely make sense in other regions, but Hong Kong's situation was unique. And the situation at that time was also unique.
Wang Dao patted him on the shoulder:

"If the company dares to offer you a contract like this, they're not afraid of losing money."

"I forgot to tell you, we sign these contracts every five years."

The chubby boy was taken aback:
"Five years?"

The Way of the King:

"Not satisfied?"

The chubby boy rubbed his hands together excitedly:

"I was thinking I could only sign a three-year contract."

Wang Dao sighed:

"Like I said, you need to be successful!"

"The five-year contract doesn't mean the company can't afford your fees; it just means our contracts are subject to market conditions."

"The next era is one of explosive growth in movie box office revenue. Five years feels like a long time."

"If it goes any longer, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it and will run off to do odd jobs."

The chubby boy assumed he was joking.

"Brother Dao, I'd be laughing in my sleep if this deal was this good!"

"How could I be dissatisfied?"

Wang Dao looked at him with a half-smile:

"Okay, just don't regret it later."

The chubby boy thumped his chest loudly:

"I won't regret it!"

Wang Dao was too lazy to talk to him, so he waited until the man finished signing and then asked:

"How's your senior's movie coming along?"

The chubby boy's face was particularly interesting, and he couldn't help but give a thumbs up;

"Brother Dao, you're amazing!"

"I thought it was already outrageous enough to have police officers playing police officers and gang members playing gang members."

"Then my senior told me that they actually paid us out of their own pockets to act in it?!"

"how did you do it?"

Wang Dao chuckled.

"Shouldn't it be?"

The chubby boy scratched his head:

"Brother Dao, this is way too wild!"

"What should we say when the film is released?"

"There must be someone who knows their real-world identities."

Will our company be affected?

Wang Dao curled his lip:
"What impact will that have?"

"It's just a matter of adding two lines at the beginning of the film—"

"This film is based on a true story. Thank you to the police station for their technical guidance."

The chubby boy was horrified:
"...Is there nothing else?"

Wang Dao asked curiously:
"What else do you want?"

The chubby boy gasped sharply. He knew that Brother Dao was unconventional, but he didn't expect him to be this unconventional.

Outrageous!

Wang Dao shrugged:

"They owe our company a favor, and this is just them repaying that favor."

"It's nothing."

The chubby guy seemed to be deep in thought, secretly marveling at how unconventional the company's methods were.

Wang Dao pulled out a Marlboro and tossed it to the chubby boy:

"You are now the company's chief director, and from now on, every move you make will represent the company's image."

He looked the chubby boy up and down, clearly disapproving.

"Find a good stylist and have them design a good image for you, otherwise what will people think?"

The chubby boy looked at himself. A headband was tied on his forehead, his hair was fluffy and frizzy, and he was wearing a T-shirt. He was dressed very trendily and avant-gardely, with a lot of artistic flair.

"Is there anything wrong with my appearance?"

Wang Dao chuckled coldly.

"Is this what you call the foreword?"

"You probably don't even know what avant-garde is."

"Change it for me right now!"

"If you don't handle this well, see how I deal with you!"

The chubby boy immediately fell silent.

Wang Dao also said:

"You're the big director in our company, so we need to explain the company rules to you first."

The chubby boy was quite bewildered:
"Brother Dao, what are our company's rules?"

The kingly way is stated very plainly:
"You weren't an employee of our company before, and you're not required to follow the company's rules and regulations."

"Now that you've signed a director's contract, you must abide by our company's rules and regulations."

The chubby boy quickly said:

"Brother Dao, please give your instructions."

Wang Dao shrugged:

"Don't be so nervous."

"Actually, it's very simple."

"Just don't do anything disloyal."

The chubby boy immediately relaxed: "That's it?"

Wang Dao looked at him with a half-smile:
"This sounds simple, but how many people can actually do it?"

"Loyalty is always a difficult thing to maintain."

"Otherwise, we wouldn't keep talking about loyalty and righteousness every day."

"It is beautiful and rare...that's why it is advocated."

The chubby boy said seriously:

“My father taught me to be grateful, and I have always done so.”

Kingly Way claps hands
"That would be best."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need to tell you."

"If you are bullied, remember to mention our company's name."

"If the other party doesn't give you face, remember not to be foolish and fight back. Preserving your life is better than anything else."

"The company will stand up for you."

"Our company doesn't go looking for trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either."

The chubby boy was overjoyed:
"Thank you, Brother Dao."

Actually, Liang Kun had already told the chubby boy about this on his very first day at the company; Wang Dao was just repeating it.

However, the chubby boy at the time had no clear concept of this promise at all.

It wasn't until he encountered the case of the pervert Gao while filming a movie in Kwai Tsing that he truly understood just how powerful Qiankun Films really was.

With the lecherous Gao as a stepping stone, the chubby boy really felt he could walk sideways in Hong Kong.

Wang Dao laughed and said:

"Once the film finishes its run and the company receives its share of the box office revenue, we may give you a bonus as appropriate."

The chubby boy was even more surprised:
"Is there any reward?"

"Didn't I already receive all my rewards?"

The annual signing fee of 300,000 yuan (before signing the contract, after signing the contract it would be forty years, but it would start from the following year) and the filming fee of 50,000 yuan per film were all settled.

Wang Dao laughed loudly:
"Brother Kun has never liked to hog the profits. If you guys make a good film and achieve good box office results, and the company makes money, you won't be left behind."

"The company can only move forward if everyone can make money."

“We don’t do things like TVB Jade.”

The chubby boy nodded repeatedly.

To be honest, even the most loyal person to TVB Jade can only say one thing about his salary: stingy!
Even actors don't earn much.

Unless you're a top-tier actor, it's a very difficult situation for everyone.

Why did the Hawk-Nosed King rebel?
Isn't it because TVB Jade is exploiting us too much?
Wang Dao views movies as tools for money laundering; as long as they make money, that's fine, he doesn't expect them to make too much.

But the requirement is that it can make money.

The money he earned from making movies could not possibly help him achieve his grand goals.

However, Wang Dao had no choice but to keep the company.

Film and television companies are, after all, part of the media industry, and cultivating a positive public image is extremely important to them.

As long as film and television companies have a continuous stream of works, no one can find fault with them.

Another point is that Wang Dao also needs to show Liang Kun that doing legitimate business is more profitable—this is the key point!

The result is clear: the key is to make good movies and movies that can be box office hits.

Directors like Xiaopangzi, who are capable of making successful commercial films, naturally need to be courted.

"The better the shot, the bigger the reward."

"The more work you do, the more rewards you get."

The chubby boy's mouth was stretched so wide it almost reached the back of his head!

Brother Dao is particular!
Wang Dao smiled and said:

"Your dad, Uncle Lin, is a true-blue director. Although you've signed a contract with the company to be a director, to be honest..."

The chubby boy was very self-aware:
"I wouldn't dare call myself a great director."

If he were to reveal this title, not only would his father, Wang Dalin, kick him—"You have no honors whatsoever, yet you dare to call yourself a big director? Are you out of your mind?"
That would inevitably lead to public condemnation.

The chubby boy comes from a well-educated family, so naturally he wouldn't make such a mistake.

"I am the company's tool to attract talented individuals."

The chubby boy knew the story of "spending a thousand pieces of gold to buy a horse's bones".

Wang Dao sighed:
"Get out!"

"If you're not a thoroughbred horse now, then just get moving and become one sooner, right?"

"You're practically the only director in our company now; you're in charge of all the company's resources."

"What you want to do is simple, isn't it?"

"As long as you make more movies and maintain a high standard—for example, consistently ranking in the top ten of the annual box office—who would dare say you're not a great director?"

"If you encounter any problems, ask Uncle Lin for help. I don't believe Uncle Lin will abandon you!"

Wang Dao unleashed all his skills; he didn't even put in this much effort when he was trying to fool Liang Kun, and the effect was outstanding.

The chubby boy was so dizzy he was almost disoriented—the company values ​​me, the company is promoting me, and I will definitely surpass my dad and become a real great director.

Wang Dao was actually quite satisfied with the chubby boy.

In terms of directing skills, the chubby guy is definitely no match for Wang Dalin.

However, each generation has its own aesthetic skills and its own narrative style.

The growth and development of a person's youth almost determines their aesthetic taste.

Taking the time travel story as an example, with directors like Jia as representatives, that generation suffered misfortune, and almost all the films they made after becoming directors were underground films.

However, the young people at that time had no empathy for them at all.

This has led to a disconnect between films and the market.

Young people were furious when they saw the movies they made: What the hell is this garbage?!
It's almost impossible for them to succeed at the box office!
The chubby guy lives in a good era, so his movies are very appealing to young people. In other words, with the chubby guy, Qiankun Films doesn't have to worry about producing qualified commercial films for at least the next ten or twenty years.

Of course, expecting a chubby guy to make a decent art film is asking the impossible.

It's not that he can't make art films, it's that he has absolutely no need to.

Commercial films can be shot quickly and easily here, so why bother with those art films?

Kingly Way Claps:
"Alright, that's all done. Now go about your business."

The chubby boy asked in astonishment:

"I'm unemployed?"

Wang Dao asked strangely:

"Who said you don't have a job?"

The chubby boy exclaimed in astonishment:

"Then what do I do?"

Wang Dao rolled his eyes:
"You can do whatever you want. As long as you finish shooting five movies for my company in a year, even if you stay at home every day and don't come to the company, no one will care what you do."

The chubby boy was horrified:
"Are you serious?"

Wang Dao narrowed his eyes:
"What, you think I'm joking?"

The chubby boy rubbed his hands together and said:
"Isn't our company's compensation package amazing?"

Wang Dao rolled his eyes:
"Fuck off!"

The chubby boy skipped away happily.

Wang Dao smiled and shook his head, carefully putting away the little fat boy's contract.

However, just as I was about to leave, the office phone rang:
"Ado, come here for a moment."

Wang Dao stood up and went next door, utterly speechless:

"Brother Kun, our offices are right next to each other, can't you just get up and call out?"

However, when he looked up, he saw Han Bin and instinctively wanted to close the door and leave.

Han Bin said speechlessly:
"Ado, you think you can just leave now that you see me?"

Wang Dao smiled wryly:
"Dude, if you want to pick up girls, just go pick them up yourself."

"There's no need for me and Brother Kun to cover for you."

"Van, she has a crush on you."

Liang Kun laughed heartily and said to Han Bin:

“Binny, that’s what I wanted to say too. If you want to pick up girls, just ask Van to have dinner by yourself. You don’t need to drag us into it.”

Han Bin was incredibly frustrated and was about to speak when Wang Dao spoke first:
“Binny, I know you’re a sensitive guy.”

"But let's be honest, given your personality, your pursuit of Van is definitely a long-term thing."

"We've already shown enough loyalty by starting to support you."

"Is it necessary for me to spend every day picking up girls with you?"

"If that's the case, we won't even have much time to contact our wives."

Han Bin said with a stern face:

"I'm here to discuss serious business."

Wang Dao immediately came in and sat down:

"Sure, what's up?"

Han Bin looked at him speechlessly:
"Do you have to be so heartless?"

Wang Dao sneered:
"I absolutely refuse to go shopping with those three women, whether they're my wife or my sister-in-law, I absolutely won't go shopping with them—last time I went shopping with them, I had to rest for two whole days!"

"It's even more tiring than playing video games!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Kun quickly replied:

"Let's make it clear beforehand, I won't compensate you."

Han Bin remained silent again, and after a long while, he finally spoke:

"Stop it."

"Let's get down to business. Didn't you invite me here to talk about stocks and funds?"

"How exactly do I buy it?"

Wang Dao gently patted his head:

"I almost forgot about this."

Han Bin watched his performance with a cold eye. How could he forget about this?
Wang Dao said earnestly:
"Once we buy this fund, you'll have to follow my instructions on how to operate it."

Let me give you an example first.

Han Bin immediately became interested:

"What example?"

Wang Dao casually remarked:
"I've identified two stocks that I'm optimistic about, and I have a rough prediction for them. How about we conduct an experiment?!"

(End of this chapter)