Back to 17, My Brother is the Cult Leader

Han Sanping then turned to Fang Yuan.

"But you have to agree to one condition—you still have to finish writing the script; you can't just abandon it because of this settlement method."

The quality of the first two parts must be maintained; this project cannot be relegated to a lower position simply because investment has been withdrawn.

Fang Yuan thought for a moment.

"Sure. But there's one condition—I have the final say on how to modify the script."

You cannot have someone else revise my draft after I've finished writing the final version.

Han Sanping glanced at Feng Xiaogang. Feng Xiaogang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay." Han Sanping slapped the table, thus settling the matter.

"Then it's settled. Fang Yuan withdraws his investment, the five million script fee is settled in one lump sum, and the three parties will share the cost proportionally."

The source retains the right to be credited for the script and the right to make final modifications.

Wang Jinghua made a few notes in her notebook without saying a word.

She barely spoke throughout the entire negotiation.

Han Sanping then turned to Feng Xiaogang.

"Director Feng, how should I allocate your share?"

Feng Xiaogang hesitated for a moment. "I scraped together 500,000 yuan myself."

Han Sanping frowned. "What can 500,000 do? For a 50 million project, 500,000 is just a fraction of the total."

As the director, you need to be involved in at least 5% to 8% of the project before you can be said to be truly aligned with its progress.

Otherwise, how can you guarantee your say in the creative process? The investors have put up the money, so their word carries more weight than yours.

The more you invest yourself, the more power you have on set. You should understand that.

Feng Xiaogang tapped his fingers twice on the table, but didn't reply immediately.

Wang Zhongjun spoke.

Huayi can lend you 3.5 million. Add that to your own 500,000, and you'll have 4 million, which is 8% of the total.

Once the film is released, the money will be repaid gradually from your director's share. Interest will be waived, but the principal must be repaid.

Feng Xiaogang glanced at Wang Zhongjun, then at Han Sanping.

"Okay," he said.

Han Sanping nodded and confirmed the figures for each company.

China Film Group invested 20 million yuan, Huayi Brothers invested 20 million yuan, and Emperor Entertainment Group invested 10 million yuan, totaling 50 million yuan.

Screenwriter Fang Yuan paid a lump sum of five million RMB for the script's copyright, which was then shared by the three investors according to their respective investment proportions—China Film Group contributed two million RMB, Huayi Brothers contributed two million RMB, and Emperor Entertainment Group contributed one million RMB. Fang Yuan withdrew from all investment and profit-sharing rights in the project and will no longer enjoy any subsequent revenue, but retains the right to be credited as a screenwriter and the final right to make revisions.

Director Feng Xiaogang raised 500,000 yuan of his own money and borrowed 3.5 million yuan from Huayi Brothers, for a total investment of 4 million yuan, accounting for 8% of the total shares of the project.

The repayment method is to deduct the amount annually from Feng Xiaogang's future earnings from acting in or directing Huayi projects. Specific terms will be drafted separately by Huayi's legal department.

Han Sanping tightened the thermos and stood up.

That's all for today. The specific contract text will be drafted by China Film Legal, and we'll go through the signing process later.

Fang Yuan, get the script sorted out quickly; Director Feng is waiting for a script meeting.

"Okay," Fang Yuan said.

Wang Jinghua stood up, pulled the Fox contract out from under the thermos, and returned it to Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan took it, put it back in the folder, and zipped up the briefcase.

Everyone began packing their things.

Wang Zhongjun shook hands with Han Sanping, then spoke a few words to President Lin of Emperor Group, before walking up to Fang Yuan.

"Fang Yuan, I'd like to take a look at the terms of your contract in Hollywood if I have the chance."

"I just wanted to understand the template structure there, which would be valuable for Huayi Brothers' future collaborations with Hollywood."

Fang Yuan glanced at him. "President Wang, I can't disclose the specific terms of the contract."

But I can give you a verbal explanation of the Fox's frame structure later.

I cannot disclose the core business terms.

Wang Zhongjun nodded and said nothing more.

He's a smart man; he knows what the confidentiality clauses in such contracts mean.

Fang Yuan was already being very polite by saying that.

Mr. Lin from Emperor Group also came over and shook hands with Fang Yuan, saying, "I hope this cooperation will be pleasant." He was much more polite than when he first arrived.

Fang Yuan replied with "Thank you".

Feng Xiaogang was the last to leave. He stood at the conference room door, looking at Fang Yuan with a somewhat complicated expression.

"Fang Yuan, I'd like to discuss the ending of that script with you again. When are you free?"

"Next week," Fang Yuan said. "I'll have Sister Hua schedule a time with you."

Feng Xiaogang nodded and left.

Only Fang Yuan, Wang Jinghua, and Han Sanping remained in the conference room.

Han Sanping sat back in his chair, unscrewed the thermos, took a sip of water, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Fang Yuan.

"Wang Zhongjun's expression wasn't very good when you took out that Fox contract today."

Han Sanping's tone carried a hint of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret, emotion, and reflection), but also a touch of reminder.

"He didn't expect you to be involved in such big-scale activities in Hollywood."

Fang Yuan smiled. "President Han, it's not that I'm playing too big; it's just that the conditions they're offering me are indeed better than those in China."

"I intentionally wanted to pressure someone; the price is there, and no one can deny it."

"I know." Han Sanping put down his thermos.

"But have you ever considered that the reason you held the reins in this conference room today is because you had that contract in your hands?"

Without that contract, everything you say will be seen as youthful arrogance.

Fang Yuan remained silent.

He knew Han Sanping was right.

That contract with Fox was not just a legal document, but also a testament to its power and influence.

In the Chinese film industry, seniority, connections, and backing are all resources, but the most solid resource is the facts—the undeniable facts written in black and white.

Fox's $1.2 million advance payment was something like that.

You can say that a twenty-year-old is immature, arrogant, and disrespectful, but you can't deny that Fox wouldn't spend $1.2 million to buy a script that is "immature".

"I'm not saying you're an arrogant person," Han Sanping added.

"I mean you played your cards well today. But you have to understand, you can only use this card once."

For your next film, you can't just slam the Fox contract on the table every time.

It won't work if you use it too many times; people will think you only have this one card to rely on.

Fang Yuan smiled. "I know."

"But Mr. Han, how do you know I don't have any other trump cards?"

"Mr. Han, we're giving you face today; this is the first time, and there won't be a second time."

Han Sanping was stunned.

He then realized that he had offended Fang Yuan quite badly this time.

Fang Yuan also stood up and shook hands with Han Sanping.

The two walked out of the China Film Building.

Early spring in Beijing is still quite cold, with a dry chill in the wind blowing from the direction of Chang'an Avenue.

Fang Yuan stood on the steps and zipped his coat all the way up.

Wang Jinghua stood next to him and lit a cigarette.

"Your performance at the meeting today was better than I expected."