China Entertainment: Been working as a director since 03

Chapter 646: Making Movies Didn’t Make Money Buying Houses

"No wonder, I was wondering why it tasted like Cantonese cuisine." Zhuang Wenqiang said with sudden enlightenment.

"Tan's cuisine incorporates many characteristics of Beijing cuisine and Cantonese cuisine. You are guests from Hong Kong Island. Of course, I have taken every aspect into consideration when entertaining you." Li Yu said with a smile.

They are from Hong Kong Island, so naturally we have to consider their eating habits.

You can't just take people to eat Sichuan hotpot right away, the kind that's extremely spicy and numbing.

They still have to take a plane back to Hong Kong Island, so we have to be considerate of their butts.

Zhuang Wenqiang and Zhou Runfa couldn't help but admire Li Yu's attentiveness.

Zhuang Wenqiang thought this courtyard house was quite interesting, and asked, "Director Li, did you buy or rent this courtyard house? I heard that the housing prices in Beijing are not cheap now, so this courtyard house should be quite expensive, right?"

"It's more than expensive. Can I say it's ridiculously expensive? The price of a square meter of a courtyard house is between 6 and 30 yuan. You heard it right, that's the price per square meter.

So now the price of a courtyard house in Beijing starts at several hundred million yuan. If I were asked to buy one, I can’t afford it now.”

Speaking of housing prices, Li Yu felt a lot of emotion.

Damn, he finally understood why those reborn protagonists always liked to buy houses.

Especially those protagonists in the Chinese entertainment industry, they like to hoard houses.

Because the money they earn from buying a house is more than what they can earn after working hard for decades.

The most important thing is that the money earned from hoarding houses and waiting for appreciation is reasonable and legal, with low risk and high return.

"So this courtyard is rented?"

"No, you misunderstood me. What I just said is that I can't afford a siheyuan now. I bought this siheyuan more than ten years ago, and it cost several million yuan at that time." Li Yu explained.

Zhou Runfa: “…”

Zhuang Wenqiang: “…”

They were both stunned, really stunned on the spot. A house cost several million yuan more than ten years ago, but now it starts at several hundred million yuan. It's really outrageous.

If I had known this earlier, I would have been an actor and made movies. I would have spent tens of millions to buy a courtyard house in Beijing more than ten years ago.

Then you can just sit at home and wait for the value to appreciate. Isn't that more than being an actor? It's also easy.

Seeing their shocked expressions, Li Yu said calmly, "No kidding, I've made so many movies over the years, but the money I made from making movies is really not as much as what I made from buying a house."

What Li Yu said was true. He bought several courtyard houses and office buildings in Beijing, and also bought many houses across the country.

Most of these houses were bought more than ten years ago. Li Yu made movies 365 days a year, but the money he earned was not as much as the appreciation of the houses.

……

That night, Wang Jing called Li Yu to inquire about the situation.

He wanted to know whether Li Yu would invest money in Zhuang Wenqiang after learning about his project.

And if you invest, how much money will you invest?
After learning that Li Yu had invested 300 million yuan in Zhuang Wenqiang, Wang Jing was shocked: "No, Director Li, we have a great relationship, but you have never been so generous to me."

Li Yu did not answer Wang Jing's question directly because telling the truth might hurt Wang Jing's feelings.

The truth is often like a sharp knife that hurts people.

What's Wang Jing's rank?
What rank is Zhuang Wenqiang?
Can it be the same?

Wang Jing is not that outstanding in the profession of director. He is more suitable to be a businessman or producer.

Wang Jing has never made a truly awesome movie.

Zhuang Wenqiang is different. As a screenwriter, Zhuang Wenqiang is top-notch, and as a director, he is also excellent. Wang Jing's peak work in recent years, "Chasing the Dragon", is just a relatively good Hong Kong film.

"Wushuang" is different. "Wushuang" can be regarded as the best Hong Kong film in recent years, so the "one" can be removed.

Li Yu helped Zhuang Wenqiang buy the adaptation rights of "The Usual Suspects" and avoided the impact of the plagiarism scandal.

The value of "Wushuang" will be higher than the previous life.

"Director Wang, you shouldn't spread rumors. When have I ever been ungenerous to you? You've made so many movies, and I probably haven't invested this much money in one go.

The total amount has exceeded 300 million. I treat all talented and potential people equally.

As long as you have potential, I will invest as much money as you want. If you can make a movie like Guo Shi's "Investiture of the Gods" or Chen Kaige's "The Thirteen Soldiers Return to Yumen", I will invest three or five hundred million yuan in you.

I can’t come up with that much money myself, but I can help you get it.”

Li Yu said seriously.

Li Yu was not bragging, Wang Jing completely believed it.

He wanted to make blockbuster movies like "Investiture of the Gods" and "The Thirteen Soldiers Return to Yumen", but he had no experience in making such blockbuster movies.

His businessman attributes and personality also determine that he will not take the risk to make that kind of film.

It’s good to succeed, you make money and gain face.

If he fails, he will lose so much money that it will hurt him to death.

He still prefers to make movies with more guaranteed profits. Although the money he makes may not be much at a time, as long as he can make money every time, the accumulated money over the years will be a huge fortune.

Wang Jing brought the topic back to Zhuang Wenqiang's "Wushuang" and asked Li Yu, "So you are very optimistic about Zhuang Wenqiang's "Wushuang"?"

Li Yu dared to spend 300 million yuan, and Wang Jing admired Li Yu's courage very much.

I have contacted so many investors in Hong Kong Island, and they all think it has little potential.

The fact that so many people have given up shows that the risk of losing money is high.

If it were Wang Jing, he would definitely not vote.

“I am very optimistic, and it is not an exaggeration at all. After listening to Zhuang Wenqiang’s story, I think his film “Wushuang” has the potential to become the best Hong Kong film in the next five years, bar none.

After all, this is a work that took ten years to develop. I believe that you, as an old Hong Konger, know better than me how profound Zhuang Wenqiang's screenwriting skills are. "

Li Yu said firmly.

Wang Jing was really surprised that Li Yu gave such a high evaluation of "Wushuang".

Could it be that the investors in Hong Kong really didn't know what was good? Or was it that Li Yu had made a mistake? Wang Jing didn't know which answer was correct.

The real answer can only be revealed after this movie is made and released.

Before leaving for the United States, Li Yu notified Da Tiantian again.

He promised to help Da Tiantian find a job. He is a good man who keeps his promises and he would never go back on his word.

"Tiantian, I have found the job you want. I recently invested in a Hong Kong film called "Wushuang" and asked for a second female role for you. When the filming starts later, someone will notify you to join the crew." Li Yu said.

"Why is it the second female lead? Li Yu, do you look down on me?" Da Tiantian was dissatisfied.

She used to be the leading female role, so why is she the second female role this time?

"I'm sorry, Tiantian, I really look down on you this time. The leading female role has to play two roles, you can't handle it. Besides, aren't you acting because you're bored and want to find something to do? The leading female role or the second female role doesn't matter to you, everyone knows your reputation as a rich and beautiful woman. Everyone knows that you act for fun, and no one will think that the leading female role is better than you if you play the second female role." Li Yu replied.

(End of this chapter)