Back to 17, My Brother is the Cult Leader

Chapter 134 The Lunar New Year Film Season is Coming

"Is that Source Productions in Hollywood? You're pretty shrewd, aren't you?"

Fang Yuan was a little embarrassed. "What do you think, Mr. Han?"

"The plan is good, I'll review it carefully later. Hmm, you did well today, you knew to come and ask for my opinion, you should come more often in the future."

If there are good projects, you can't always keep them all to yourself.

"Mr. Han, there's one more small matter."

"I knew it. There's no such thing as a free lunch. You're just after something for nothing. Go ahead and tell me."

"Mr. Han, this year I filmed a big project at Yuan Manufacturing, with a total investment of 1.2 million US dollars. I am the screenwriter and co-director. Zeng Li has a cameo role in it. Do you think it meets the requirements for co-production? If it is to be imported, there is also the issue of quota."

"In addition, I have two more films scheduled for the next year or the year after. One is 'Happy Death Day 2,' which still stars Yan Danchen and Zeng Li, and the other is a science fiction thriller in which Zeng Li plays a supporting role. I'm letting you know in advance so you can decide how to proceed."

"$1.2 million? And you have four films in total for the next two years?"

"Tentative. There are two more TV series."

President Han looked at Fang Yuan without saying a word for a long time.

"Okay, I understand. Have them contact Hao Wei later."

After saying goodbye to President Han, the car drove out of the China Film Group compound, and Fang Yuan cursed, "That old fox."

Mr. Han, who lives upstairs, stood by the window, watching the car recede into the distance. "That little fox has really made something of himself."

He turned around, picked up the proposal, flipped through it, and then put it down again.

After thinking about it, I sighed.

He muttered to himself, "A Lunar New Year film."

"Mr. Fang, MBC has finalized the cooperation plan for 'My Name Is Kim Sam-soon'."

As soon as she returned to the company, Li Xinyu came to report.

"Oh, what specific details?"

"They approve of your Hollywood copyright prices and contract models."

An upfront payment of US$120 million will be made, with the copyright valued at 20% of the total project investment. The investor will then enjoy global revenue sharing outside of the Chinese market.

Yuanchuang will become a co-producer of the project, and the company's logo and the words "co-producer" will appear in the opening credits.

Yuanchuang has the priority to acquire the distribution rights for the Korean version in China.

Yuanchuang has the right to make suggestions on casting and key plot points in the script.

Original Creation will receive 20% of the revenue from derivative products such as the original soundtrack (0ST), novels, and merchandise.

"Yes, we can have the legal department follow up and try to make this collaboration a model, which will make it easier to move things forward later."

"Okay. SHOWBOX agrees to participate in the investment of 'The Thieves', including being responsible for the publicity and distribution in South Korea."

"Let's wait and see after the New Year."

"The promotion of 'If You Are the One' cannot rely solely on Shanghai Film Studio. The Beijing area is the home ground for 'Cell Phone,' and we cannot give it up."

Contact Enlight Media; we're going to fight them head-on.

"Okay, Mr. Fang."

"We'll use Shanghai Film Studio and Light Source for traditional promotion, Tencent and Rongshuxia for online promotion, and other portal websites. Contracts need to be signed in advance; this time we're going for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional offensive."

"I have other things to do. How about you take full control this time? Are you confident?"

"Okay, I'll do it then." Li Xinyu hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and made up her mind.

"Haha, go for it! I wonder what kind of expressions President Han and Wang Zhongjun will have when they find out they lost to a girl in her early twenties."

"Go ahead and get busy, I believe in you."

Mid-November, Shenzhen Bao'an Airport.

When Fang Yuan walked out of the arrival hall, he immediately saw Chen Yidan.

He stood at the front of the arrival gate, wearing a dark gray jacket and silver-rimmed glasses. He looked more like a university researcher than a company executive.

A young man stood behind him, carrying a briefcase; he was probably his assistant.

"Mr. Fang," Chen Yidan greeted him, "You must be tired. Was the flight alright?"

"It's alright, just half an hour late."

"It's alright, it won't cause any trouble." Chen Yidan smiled. "The car is waiting outside. We'll take you to the hotel to rest first. Mr. Ma has arranged a dinner party tonight, and several of the founders will be there."

Chen Yidan led the way out of the terminal building, where a black Buick GL8 was parked. In Shenzhen in 2003, it was considered a respectable vehicle for official receptions.

The car was clean and tidy, with two bottles of mineral water and a copy of the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily published that day on the seats.

The car drove out of the airport and onto the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway.

Chen Yidan, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to Fang Yuan and said, "President Ma originally wanted to pick me up in person, but he had an unexpected transoceanic conference call with Goldman Sachs this afternoon and couldn't get away."

He asked me to convey his apologies, saying he would definitely make amends that evening.

"Don't mention it, business is more important," Fang Yuan said. "Is it about going public with Goldman Sachs?"

"Yes, the final round of discussion on valuation models."

Liu Chiping's team is very meticulous; they double-check every single number.

Chen Yidan's tone carried a hint of admiration: "Goldman Sachs taking over Tencent's IPO is itself an endorsement of the market."

Fang Yuan nodded without saying anything more.

He knew the name Liu Chiping—

An executive director at Goldman Sachs Asia is currently managing Tencent's IPO and will be poached by Ma Huateng to become his chief strategy officer in a few months.

Shenzhen outside the car window receded rapidly in the hazy sky.

In 2003, Shenzhen did not yet have the skyscrapers that would later appear, but construction sites were already springing up everywhere along the roads, and tower cranes stood like steel jungles. The city was growing at an almost savage pace.

"President Fang," Chen Yidan suddenly spoke up, "President Ma asked me to inform you about the equity structure adjustment."

Goldman Sachs suggested a 50/50 split between Venture Capital and the founding team, as this is the safest approach and has high market acceptance. This needs to be adjusted.

"I know," Fang Yuan said. "He mentioned it on the phone."

"We can discuss the specifics tonight," Chen Yidan said. "Mr. Ma's idea is to invite everyone, including Zhang Zhidong and Zeng Liqing, to set the framework once and for all, and then let the legal department work out the details."

After exiting the highway, the car entered Futian District and stopped in front of a hotel called "Shengtingyuan".

This hotel is considered quite good by Shenzhen standards.

Chen Yidan helped him carry his luggage to the front desk and completed the check-in process.

"Mr. Fang, please rest first. I'll pick you up at six o'clock."

Chen Yidan handed over the room key. "It's not far, just over on Zhenxing Road. There's a Chaozhou restaurant called 'Old Place,' which we frequent."

Fang Yuan took the room key: "Okay, see you tonight."

At six o'clock in the evening, Fang Yuan came downstairs on time.

Zhenxing Road area is old Shenzhen territory. The streets are narrow, and there are five or six-story buildings built at the end of the last century on both sides, with small shops on the ground floor.

The car stopped in front of an inconspicuous doorway. The sign read "Old Place Chaozhou Cuisine," and the lettering was handwritten, with the lightbox slightly yellowed.