Back to 17, My Brother is the Cult Leader

Just a few days after the Spring Festival, on the afternoon of the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Han Sanping called.

"Fang Yuan, are you home?"

"Yes, Mr. Han."

"I'll be visiting China Film Group on the tenth of the month to discuss 'Big Shot'."

People from Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment were there, as was Feng Xiaogang. Some things needed to be discussed face-to-face.

China Film Group was established last year, and Han Sanping is now the vice chairman and deputy general manager. The company is much larger than it was during the Beijing Film Studio era.

Huayi Brothers came in, and Emperor Entertainment Group came in too.

Fang Yuan heard the news from Wang Jinghua—Han Sanping had already contacted Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment before inviting him, and the investment ratio and cooperation framework were almost finalized before he was notified to come and discuss the specific terms.

Fang Yuan hung up the phone and sent a message to Wang Jinghua:

"President Han asked me to go to China Film Group on the tenth of the month to discuss 'Big Shot'. There will also be people from Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment."

Wang Jinghua replied quickly:

"I understand. Wang Zhongjun from Huayi Brothers spoke with me a couple of days ago, saying they'd like to invest in this film."

Emperor Entertainment was brought in by President Han for overseas distribution. I'll be there on the tenth.

Fang Yuan read the message but didn't reply immediately. He leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment.

For the first two films, the only investors were him and the Beijing Film Studio.

He is both a screenwriter and an investor, and has a say in the project.

Although Han Sanping was in charge of overall coordination, the funds of Beijing Film Studio and Fangyuan Capital were tied together, and no third-party capital came in to disrupt things.

This collaborative model is simple and clean, with a short decision-making chain, and Fang Yuan's opinions are fully respected on core issues such as casting and script revision.

But this time, Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment Group have entered the picture.

Huayi Brothers has been on a roll for the past two years. The Wang brothers, Zhongjun and Zhonglei, have transitioned from film and television to television, and they have capital, ambition, and connections.

Emperor Entertainment Group, needless to say, is a long-established company in Hong Kong with a mature international distribution network, but that also means that their demands are not as simple as "making a good film" - what they want is overseas markets, international influence, and capital returns.

Han Sanping's decision to bring these two companies in was clearly not just about raising money; he had a bigger plan—

China Film Group has just been established and needs to set benchmark projects in the industry. It needs to establish cooperative relationships with private capital and Hong Kong capital. "Big Shot's Funeral" is just one move in this game.

Thinking of this, Fang Yuan sent another message to Wang Jinghua:

"Will my investment rights be diluted if Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment Group come in?"

Wang Jinghua replied, "Let's talk when we meet. I'll arrive in Beijing first on the afternoon of the ninth day, let's meet up then."

On the afternoon of the ninth day of the first lunar month, Fang Yuan arrived at Wang Jinghua's office in Beijing.

Wang Jinghua's office is not large, but it is very tidy.

Several documents were on the table, and a calligraphy scroll hung on the wall that read "When the water flows, the channel will be formed."

Fang Yuan sat on the sofa, and Wang Jinghua sat in the chair opposite him, holding a thermos cup in her hand.

"Let me explain the situation to you first," Wang Jinghua said, getting straight to the point.

"President Han had already contacted Wang Zhongjun before the Lunar New Year, and Huayi Brothers wanted to get involved in the 'Big Shot' project."

Emperor Entertainment Group made the decision before the Spring Festival. President Han wanted to use Emperor Entertainment Group's channels for overseas distribution.

The current situation is that Beijing Film Studio has become part of China Film Group.

China Film Group, as the parent company, will contribute a portion of the funds, while Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment will each contribute a portion.

The specific investment ratio hasn't been determined yet, but one thing is almost certain—you're no longer one of the only two investors.

Fang Yuan nodded.

He had actually anticipated this outcome.

Han Sanping's position is different now. He has a much larger business under his control, and it's impossible for him to work with only Fang Yuan like he did during his time at the Beijing Film Studio.

What he needs to consider is the overall strategy of China Film Group. Bringing Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment Group into the group involves both political considerations—the participation of state-owned enterprises and private capital—and business considerations—Huayi Brothers' domestic resources and Emperor Entertainment Group's overseas channels.

"Yes, but they didn't communicate with me beforehand," Fang Yuan sighed.

"Yes," Wang Jinghua said.

"That's the problem. The first two films were made with Beijing Film Studio, and you had investment rights and a say in the projects."

This time they brought in two new investors without consulting you beforehand, assuming you would accept this new arrangement.

Fang Yuan did not respond.

Wang Jinghua continued, "My judgment is that President Han did not intend to bypass you."

He probably thinks you'll definitely still be involved in this project. With more investors, your share will decrease accordingly, but he won't completely exclude you.

He underestimated your sensitivity to this issue.

Fang Yuan thought for a moment. What Wang Jinghua said made sense, but it wasn't entirely correct.

Han Sanping didn't underestimate his sensitivity; rather, Han Sanping's current role dictates that when making decisions, he prioritizes the interests of China Film Group over Fang Yuan's personal feelings.

Bringing Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment into the project is beneficial to both the project and China Film Group.

Whether Fang Yuan will accept it or not is something to discuss later.

"How do you plan to discuss things at the meeting on the tenth?" Wang Jinghua asked.

Fang Yuan thought for a moment and said four words: "We'll see how things go."

He did not reveal the specific strategy to Wang Jinghua because he did not yet know how much money Huayi Brothers and Emperor Entertainment Group were willing to contribute, what percentage they would take, or what conditions they would impose.

In negotiations, when information is unequal, the person who reveals their hand first is the loser.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Fang Yuan went to China Film Group.

Several cars were already parked in the parking lot at the entrance.

Huayi Brothers, Emperor Entertainment Group, and a black sedan with embassy license plates were parked at the very back. They were not very conspicuous, but the license plate number was somewhat unusual.

Fang Yuan gave his name in the lobby, the receptionist made a phone call, and a staff member came down and led him to the third floor.

The meeting room wasn't large; a long table could seat a dozen or so people.

When Fang Yuan arrived, Han Sanping was already there, sitting at the head of the table reading documents, with a thermos on his right, the lid half-unscrewed.

Han Sanping raised his chin. "Fang Yuan, please have a seat."

Fang Yuan sat down one seat to Han Sanping's right. Wang Jinghua was next to him.

People gradually arrived.

When Wang Zhongjun came in, he shook hands with Han Sanping, greeted Wang Jinghua, glanced at Fang Yuan, nodded, and sat down opposite him.

The person who came from Emperor was a vice president surnamed Lin, in his forties, dressed in a suit and tie, with his hair neatly combed. After entering the room, he exchanged a few pleasantries with Han Sanping, chatted with Wang Zhongjun for a bit, and then reached out his hand to Wang Jinghua when he saw her.

Fang Yuan shook hands with him, but the other party's attitude was rather indifferent.

Feng Xiaogang was the last one to come in.

He was wearing a dark jacket over a black turtleneck sweater and was holding a folder in his hand.

He greeted Han Sanping as he entered, nodded to Wang Zhongjun, glanced at Fang Yuan, said "You're here," and sat down opposite Fang Yuan.