How did I become famous?

Chapter 186 An awesome script! We must increase our efforts!

"hiss--!"

After reading the script, Franklin and his companions were also taken aback.

"Fang, your script is just too nice!"

It's even a little too powerful!

This is a complete smear campaign against the FBI, CIA, Hollywood, Screen Actors Guild, and capitalists!

But is it really okay to film this?

Fang said he didn't care: "Anyway, as long as that IRS gentleman is really helpful, it's not impossible to film it."

"We can go talk to him again tomorrow with the script," Franklin said quickly. "Now, another issue is Fang, are you not planning to work in Hollywood anymore?"

"Hollywood? Hey, bro, you know what those guys are like. They're trying to intimidate me, and I'm supposed to put up with them? I don't depend on them for a living."

Fang Bie said he didn't care. He had originally wanted to do things properly, although even if he did, he might not be able to handle it.

But now he's going to do something reckless!

Hollywood?

I don't have any pilgrimage mentality towards Hollywood, and I'm not inferior to anyone. Who do you think you are?

Trying to intimidate me?

Once my gaming platform is up and running, I'll make your kids kneel down and call me dad!

They even want to top up my account!

I'll be supplying you with car, shooting, and sports games! GTA, Saints Row, you name it! You can all go to hell! Watch me corrupt all your teenagers!

"Uh, okay." Franklin touched the stubble on his scalp. "But this script is so extensive, will it be enough for one movie? Are we going to split it into two parts?"

But that depends on the market reaction.

It seems unlikely that Fang Bie's script will have a sequel.

"No need, we can just extend the movie's runtime." Fang Bie shrugged. "By the way, how much are you planning to charge the actors? Does that 100 million budget include all costs, or just the pure film production expenses excluding actor salaries and promotion?"

If we're just talking about film production costs, then extending the movie to about three hours and speeding up the pace would be enough to keep the audience on the edge of their seats!

A non-stop thrill ride! Stunning special effects and production quality! Top-notch music! Unbeatable pacing! And a plot that gets more exciting than the last!

It has no chance of winning an award. Even if it doesn't offend Hollywood, this kind of movie won't win any awards.

But he doesn't need to rely on this movie to convey any profound meaning.

It was just so awesome!

Make the audience happy! Make yourself happy too!

That's enough!

"That is a problem, but we don't lack money." Franklin nodded. "Anyway, let's wait until Mr. Jordan has finished reading the script tomorrow."

Fang Bie chuckled: "I'm just afraid that after reading my script, he'll be too scared to ask me to direct it."

"Nice! Fang, your script is really good! Even better than I expected!"

Mr. Jordan of IRS was delighted after reading the script.

Of course, Fang Bie didn't quite understand what he was saying.

He only understood "Nice".

Seeing Fang's puzzled expression, Franklin translated, "Fang, Mr. Jordan is very satisfied with the script, but he wants to ask you what your budget requirements are. For example, is one hundred million US dollars enough?"

Fang waved his hand: "Since your asking price isn't high, one hundred million US dollars is definitely enough." (in Mandarin)

Franklin turned back and said, "Mr. Jordan, Fang said this script is very difficult to film. If it's to be made, it might take three hours to run, and he wants to use all one hundred million dollars as a film production budget, so he probably can't handle the publicity."

"Oh! Of course! Of course, no problem!" Jordan put down the script, smiling very kindly. "This script has far exceeded our expectations. I must say, we are very satisfied. And then..."

He pointed to the script: "Let me tell you my bottom line. If the script meets our requirements, the entire $100 million investment will be in place. If it exceeds expectations, we will add another $50 million for promotion and other expenses. And for now, we are very satisfied."

Franklin nodded, then turned to the other person and said, "Fang, Mr. Jordan has decided to invest an additional fifty million US dollars. Then the four of us will also jointly invest fifty million US dollars. That means..."

Fang Bie was genuinely shocked: "A cost of two hundred million US dollars?"

"Yes, yes, brother," Franklin replied excitedly. "Even with marketing costs included, yes, two hundred million dollars!"

Fang Bie was truly shocked this time.

If calculated in Chinese dollars, this would be a budget of around 1.4 billion!

Of course, trying to calculate the exchange rate in Hollywood is simply dishonest.

There are quite a few Hollywood movies with budgets exceeding $100 million.

But the problem now is... this movie doesn't need to pay those big-name actors so much!

It's worth noting that in those blockbuster films, the salaries paid to the big-name actors alone can be at least tens of millions of US dollars, although they generally don't exceed 35% to 40% of the total budget.

But that's already a huge difference!

A simple calculation reveals that both films had a budget of $100 million, yet one actor's total salary was less than $1 million, while the other's total actor salary was nearly $40 million.

That's almost halfway there.

It's still better than in China where an investment of 100 million yuan is claimed, but the young actors' salaries exceed 80 million yuan.

At the very least, only truly outstanding actors in Hollywood can earn such high salaries.

If a young actor has acting skills, then he/she is a "talented young actor," and no longer a "young idol."

"So, are we coming down to find actors?"

"Wait a minute," Franklin said. "Fang, go and finalize your storyboard first. We'll take care of finding other actors and filming locations. We'll also arrange cars, boats, submarines, planes, and so on. We'll take you to the filming locations later."

"OK." Fang Bie had no objections.

He had an indifferent attitude.

Anyway, the game is still in the midst of intense development in China, and nothing else seems to be happening.

Hmm. I feel like I've forgotten something.

But since you can forget it, it's not an important thing.

Never mind, I'll ignore it.

Franklin then turned to Jordan and said, "Sir, listen, we need actors right now. We can handle the others, but some... how should I put it, you know, the kind of guys who look serious or righteous but are actually scumbags. Do you know if you have any connections? You know, we can't find people through the Screen Actors Guild right now."

"That's easy," Jordan laughed. "The IRS is full of these hypocritical scumbags. Oh, white, black, Asian, and Latino—which one do you want?"

Actually, there are even more of these kinds of scum in the FBI and CIA.

Yes, Hollywood has quite a few too.

After all, the moon isn't necessarily rounder in foreign countries.

The air smells sweet?

Give me a break.

Most of this area is rural, and unless you want to smell the stench of "nature," there's no difference.

Xinxiang? It's no different from other major cities in China; you'll smell car exhaust everywhere.

Franklin thought for a moment: "White people, we might need a few white people. Then we'll need a professional team to act as mercenaries."

"No problem." Jordan lit a cigar. "I'll have someone report to you in a few days."

"Shall we begin?"

"Get moving, guys! Come to me with any problems, whether it's needing to use Hollywood's facilities or anything else. Don't forget who we are."

Repeat it once.

Mr. Jordan is the head of the IRS's publicity department.

What is IRS?

State Taxation Administration.

There's a saying here: "The only things that are eternal in this world are death and taxes."

The IRS, however, adheres to the principle of conviction based on guilt.

In other words, they say you haven't paid taxes, and you need to prove it.

What are you proving?

Prove that you paid your taxes!

Do you know why there's a time every year when people in this country have to hire an accountant?

Because they need the accountant to help them calculate what expenses they didn't pay taxes on this year!

Unless they want to go to jail, they shouldn't resist; they should just pay their taxes.

Even if you're a gang leader, as long as you don't pay taxes, prison is your home.

After Franklin relayed the information, Fang Bie understood.

He finally realized what kind of powerful figure was backing him this time!

I need Hollywood venues, dare you refuse?

Open the door! IRS is collecting taxes!

My movie is about to be released, but the theaters controlled by the eight major Hollywood studios won't give it screenings?

Open the door! IRS is collecting taxes!

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go back and find the actors!"

(End of this chapter)