Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 131 Planning Ahead

To invest in the two companies, Mr. Wang poured in a huge amount of cash flow and acquired shares at a premium.

Furthermore, the agreement stipulates that his Daqiang Film Production Company has no decision-making power and cannot interfere with the operations of Guanzhi Film and Chenxing Film.

In other words, he has no choice but to agree to whatever Zhang Jun films; he has no room for objection.

However, for Boss Wang, this deal was still very worthwhile.

Although Guanzhi Pictures and Chenxing Pictures are not as big as companies like Huayi Brothers and Bona Film Group, one has cinema resources and the other has one of the best commercial film directors.

His Daqiang Film & Television holds shares in two companies, which means he has a certain base of support.

However, Mr. Wang is clearly not limited to this. He also hired professionals to run the business, fully participated in the production of film and television dramas, and invested in some TV series.

Clearly, after investing in two films with Zhang Jun, Boss Wang's ambitions began to swell.

Zhang Jun felt this wasn't a good thing; Boss Wang was starting to think he had amazing foresight. But in reality, not everyone has his ability.

However, Zhang Jun did not remind Boss Wang that a person who is immersed in success cannot be persuaded.

Moreover, this is also a good thing for Zhang Jun. After Boss Wang suffers heavy losses, he will be unable to retain his shares in order to make up for the losses.

Afterwards, Zhang Jun and Ye Xiaoyi can be taken back; Boss Wang will not refuse.

After receiving a large cash flow from Boss Wang, Zhang Jun set up his own studio. He named this studio Motion Effects Science, and it mainly focused on film and television special effects.

The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago; the second best time is now.

Zhang Jun has always said he wants to make science fiction movies, but science fiction movies can't be made just like that; there must be certain conditions to match them.

Leaving aside Hollywood, it shouldn't be worse than neighboring Japan and South Korea!

However, the reality is that there is no such thing as film and television special effects in China; what exists are rather outdated technologies.

For any large-scale film, special effects are either handled by Japanese or Korean teams or by Hong Kong companies.

But Zhang Jun doesn't want to be controlled by others. Just like George Lucas founded Industrial Light & Magic and James Cameron founded Digital Domain, Zhang Jun also wants to have his own visual effects company.

The money that Boss Wang spent on purchasing the shares helped Zhang Jun support the early development of a special effects studio.

He flew to Hong Kong several times for this purpose. Now, the decline of the Hong Kong film industry has led to a large number of unemployed people, including those in the special effects industry.

Zhang Jun needs both digital and physical effects.

With the help of Andy Lau and Jackie Chan, some people agreed to go north with him. After all, they also had families to support, and with the economic climate being bad, they would naturally work for whoever paid them.

Jackie Chan had just finished filming "The Forbidden Kingdom" and specially invited Zhang Jun to his home, introducing him to his son.

Zhang Jun understood that Cheng Long wanted him to take better care of his son. But while Zhang Jun verbally agreed, he remained indifferent, especially since his son later got into trouble.

With the Olympics coming up next year, Zhang Jun has an idea for his next film.

After having dinner with Cheng Long's family, Zhang Jun chatted with Cheng Long over tea in the living room and shared his thoughts with Cheng Long.

"Brother Jackie Chan, would you like to collaborate with me on a sports-themed movie?"

Cheng Long immediately became interested: "A sports movie? That's a novel idea. Can you tell me your specific ideas?"

Zhang Jun said, "Next year is the Olympic year, and I want to take advantage of the hype to make a sports-themed movie."

This movie won't have many action scenes; it might be the film with the least action in your career.

I want everyone to see a different side of you, Brother Jackie Chan.

If you agree, we can make the necessary preparations and start filming.

Jackie Chan had previously expressed his desire to collaborate with Zhang Jun, but it wasn't an action movie, which is his forte, and it was a niche sports subject, which made Jackie Chan hesitate.

Seeing Cheng Long's hesitation, Zhang Jun said, "I'll have someone send you the script later. You can decide after you've read it!"

Jackie Chan asked, "Have you decided on a title for this movie?"

"Let me think—how about 'Run, Dad!'?"

"That's a good name—"

Upon returning from Hong Kong Island, Zhang Jun convened a meeting with all the staff of the motion effects science team to reassure them.

"Among you, there are experienced talents I recruited from Hong Kong Island, and there are also young people who have just graduated from school and know nothing."

Zhang Jun looked at the dozen or so people in front of him and said, "You might be wondering if this boss is joking or if he has so much money he doesn't know what to do with it."

But I can tell you for sure, that's not the case.

Zhang Jun paused for a moment, then said firmly, "I set up this studio as a precautionary measure, and this studio is a key component."

To me, you are my Industrial Light & Magic.

Although the studio is still very small and its technology lags behind that of its international counterparts.

But I believe that a miracle of the Chinese film industry will be born in this small office.

And you are the creators of miracles.

After this pep talk, the young men suddenly felt a strong sense of mission and were full of energy.

However, the professionals recruited by Zhang Jun from Hong Kong Island were somewhat dismissive. For them, dreams and missions were no longer important; what mattered was the salary Zhang Jun offered.

After the meeting, Zhang Jun also approached Bai Zhou, the current head of the studio: "You don't need to worry about the investment; the studio has sufficient funds in the short term."

I will continue to bring in talent to strengthen the studio.

The studio's main task at present is to establish a production pipeline and to take on some special effects production work for film and television dramas.

Initially, I didn't plan to make a profit; the most important thing was for the studio to accumulate experience and technology.

Bai Zhou had previously studied in the United States and worked in the digital field for several years. He also participated in the production of Titanic, although he was just a handyman and his name didn't even deserve to appear in the credits.

He later returned to Hong Kong Island and joined a reputable special effects production company, but unexpectedly, the Hong Kong film industry began to decline, and he lost his place in the industry.

Having witnessed the world's most advanced film industry, his vision is naturally exceptional.

In response to Zhang Jun's request, Bai Zhou suggested: "I know a lot of talent in the special effects industry in Hollywood, many of whom are Chinese."

"Boss, I suggest you try poaching talent from Hollywood, even just one or two would be good for the studio."

Zhang Jun nodded, indicating that he understood.

"I'll give it a try."

In fact, Zhang Jun will indeed have this opportunity in the near future, namely during an economic crisis.

The economic crisis is not just about stock market fluctuations; it also affects all walks of life.

Before and after the economic crisis, major Hollywood film studios all faced a cash crunch, and the special effects industry, which depended on Hollywood for survival, was no exception.

Therefore, a large number of professionals will lose their jobs, and if they cannot find new jobs, they will disappear into the streets and sewers.

For Zhang Jun, this was a great opportunity to poach talent.

Even if we don't get them all, just bringing back a few dozen or even a dozen professional talents would be a big boost to the motion graphics science studio.

Of course, talent is the software aspect, but the hardware aspect is equally important, and this requires long-term efforts in the future.

In addition, Zhang Jun needed a large amount of capital. If it weren't for the need for cash flow, he wouldn't have agreed to give a small portion of his shares to Boss Wang.

Making money by filming movies one by one is too slow, and relying solely on the continuous investment of Chengxin Group is not realistic.

After all, Zhang Jun is just a business partner, not Ye Bingcheng's son or son-in-law. The more money he takes from others, the more bent his posture will become in the future.

It's better to be safe than sorry.

If Zhang Jun's cooperation with Ye Xiaoyi or Ye Bingcheng breaks down in the future, it will be difficult for him to start developing again. He doesn't want to repeat the old path of Zhang Yimou in his previous life.

Therefore, some things need to be planned in advance, but it is not realistic to just sell shares to trick Mr. Wang into giving money, after all, he also needs to consider his control over the company.

Taking advantage of the economic crisis, Zhang Jun made some plans, hoping to make a fortune during the crisis.

The money he had previously swindled from the French was still in an overseas account, and Bruce Chen, an overseas investment manager, helped with some of the investments.

With Zhang Jun's additional contributions, the current funding amount is approximately five million US dollars.

It's not much; it wouldn't even make a ripple in the stock market. But with this money, Zhang Jun could follow behind those capitalists and get a share of the profits.

However, what Zhang Jun talked about quickly confused Bruce Chen, because Zhang Jun didn't mention whether an economic crisis would actually happen, but instead made work arrangements.

"During the economic crisis, there will definitely be a lot of unemployed people. I need Hollywood behind-the-scenes talent, and I hope you can help me recruit those talents."

Bruce Chen was taken aback: "Mr. Zhang, we are discussing the economic crisis. What makes you so certain that an economic crisis will occur?"

Zhang Jun said, "This is a cyclical crisis that happens every now and then. The economy has been doing well for decades now, and I think it's time for a crisis to come."

God told me that an economic crisis would happen next year.

Bruce Chen was speechless. Zhang Jun didn't seem like a religious person. Why did he look so strange?

I might as well just run away with his money.

Zhang Jun patted Bruce Chen on the shoulder and said, "You were introduced by Uncle Ye, so I know you're reliable. Don't worry, whether this money is a profit or a loss, your commission will be the same."

I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong; I can put it in writing.

Since Zhang Jun had said so, what could Bruce Chen say? He had no choice but to comply and begin preparing for the economic crisis that Zhang Jun had mentioned.

Zhang Jun's own requirements were not high; he just hoped that the five million dollars would become one hundred million dollars after the economic crisis. However, Bruce Chen felt that Zhang Jun was being a bit unrealistic.

If he could turn that into a hundred million dollars, he would become Zhang Jun's most loyal lackey from then on, the kind who would never go west if Zhang Jun pointed east.

Zhang Jun naturally wouldn't explain his actions. In his previous life, he didn't pay much attention to the stock market, only remembering a few key events.

The economic crisis is one of the only opportunities he can currently exploit to make money.

In addition, there is investing in the stocks of well-known companies, such as Nvidia, which is not yet popular in the investment market, or Apple, which is about to launch a groundbreaking smartphone.

Or some promising domestic companies and companies with stable stock prices.

Zhang Jun doesn't aspire to become an invincible stock market guru like Buffett; he only hopes to make a decent living in the stock market and never have to worry about investing again.

If Zhang Jun wanted money to make a movie these days, the line of potential investors would stretch all the way to the Fifth Ring Road.

But he said that if he wanted to start a special effects studio and hoped that the bosses would invest money, those bosses would probably scatter immediately.

Therefore, he has to do some things himself, and others will not join Zhang Jun's adventure until they see results.

But once Zhang Jun produced results, they were no longer needed.