Entering the Chinese entertainment industry is like entering a deep sea

Chapter 18 Investing in Xu Zheng
As soon as Huang Bo left, Han Sanping called, and his words were full of sourness.

"I say you are a real freak. I was not optimistic when you wanted to increase the number of copies. Now it seems that it is not enough."

"Boss Han, please think more highly of me next time, just a little bit, haha."

"Okay, you've installed it, I'll increase the number of copies here, and say hello to you."

After hanging up the phone with Han Sanping, another call came in.

"Director Li, congratulations on the box office success."

"Thank you."

"I wonder if Director Li is free tonight?"

"I have a date tonight, how about the day after tomorrow?"

"No problem. See you the day after tomorrow night. I'll send you the address later."

After hanging up the phone, Li Chen called Yang Siwei again and told her that he would take her to meet her master the day after tomorrow.

Yang Siwei got into the state quickly, after all, he was an excellent student of the School of Communication.

After the first day box office of Stone was released, Yang Siwei, the artist director, kept releasing press releases, and China Film Group followed closely behind.

QQ messages, text messages, and phone calls of congratulations poured in, and everyone in the school was talking about Li Chen.

In the afternoon, a piece of news became a hot topic online.

"Li Chen, a top student at Beijing Film Academy and a young director, had already completed two novels when he was in high school."

"The two novels topped the bestseller lists of Rongshuxia online literature in 02 and 03 respectively."

"According to people familiar with the matter, the copyright fees for the two novels exceeded one million."

Li Chen still learned the news from Liu Yifei.

"So you are Nuan Yang Ji Yue, you big liar!"

"How did you know?"

"Didn't you see the trending searches?"

Li Chen hurriedly opened his notebook and saw that the first few hot searches in the portal's entertainment section were all related to him.

It’s true that people are afraid of becoming famous just like pigs are afraid of getting fat!

QQ message is coming again.

"It turns out that this copy of mine is signed and endorsed by the author, hehe!"

"Is this the gift you mentioned?"

Li Chen thought about it and decided to keep it a secret and wait until they met.

"Yes and no."

"Well what does that mean?"

"I'll tell you when I visit the set at the end of the month."

"All right."

Another wave of text messages and phone calls bombarding me.

q group chat
"So those years were written by Director Li. Director Li is talented! Could this be Director Li's confession of youth?"

"Then I have to take a good look."

“I’ve bought both.”

“I’ll buy some too.”

Li Chen ignored all this and made an appointment with Xu Zheng to have mutton hotpot at Donglaishun in the evening.

Li Chen and Huang Bo went there together, and when they arrived, Xu Zheng had already arrived.

After entering the private room, Xu Zheng stood up.

"Director Li"

"Sit down, don't be polite, you're not a stranger."

"That's right, you two are both directors, please take good care of me as a little actor in the future, haha."

Xu Zheng smiled and said, "Compared to Director Li, what kind of director am I?"

Li Chen smiled and said, "Who said it doesn't count?"

Li Wei, an Official 2 is co-directed by Xu Zheng and Zhou Shidu, and is Xu Zheng's directorial debut.

The filming started in August last year, and Xu Zheng made a cameo appearance in Shitou midway through.

Xu Zheng didn't have many scenes in The Stone, and the filming was completed in two or three days. Then Xu Zheng returned to the crew of Li Wei, an Official 2.

Xu Zheng said enviously: "I still need to learn from Director Li. The TV series is not going anywhere." Li Chen then said: "What are your plans for the future?"

Xu Zheng smiled and said, "I can save money while taking on roles. Now that I have a solid foundation, I think I'd still like to make movies."

Huang Bo listened to the two people chatting and also interrupted: "Two directors, the meat is almost cold."

Li Chen smiled and said, "Old Huang is right, let's eat first. The world is big but the stomach is the biggest."

After a while, Xu Zheng put down his chopsticks, toasted Li Chen with a glass of wine and said, "Director Li, do you have any good suggestions for me?"

Li Chen took a sip and said, "Your idea is correct. I don't have any suggestions. But I can invest in you and save you a few years of hard work."

This was truly an unexpected surprise. Xu Zheng was overjoyed and asked, "Director Li, are you kidding?"

Huang Bo didn't interrupt, his heart was filled with envy.

But he knew that he could not compare with Xu Zheng now, so he was not jealous.

But he remembered their conversation.

Li Chen smiled and said, "Investment has risks. I never joke. But business is business. Since I want to invest, there must be a return."

Xu Zheng understood and said hastily, "Director Li, I don't need the director's fee, I can even act for free."

Li Chen smiled and said, "You don't understand what I mean. I can see that you are a person with ideas."

Xu Zheng asked in confusion: "What does Director Li mean?"

Li Chen said: "The director's fee and the film's remuneration should be as much as they are. But I have two conditions, what do you think?"

"Director Li, please speak."

Li Chen nodded and said, "1. In the future, I will have a good script that I need you to direct. You can't refuse. Of course, the director's fee will not be reduced by a penny."

“2: In the future, if you direct a movie, our company will have the priority to invest in it, and the investment share will not be less than 30%.”

Xu Zheng was stunned: "Just these two?"

Li Chen smiled and said, "Just these two."

Xu Zheng hesitated for only a few seconds before replying: "I agree!"

Li Chen raised his glass and said with a smile: "It's a pleasure to work with you."

Xu Zheng also raised his glass excitedly: "Director Li, it's a pleasure working with you."

Huang Bo also raised his glass and shouted, "Hey, hey, don't forget me. The two directors must think of me."

Li Chen and Xu Zheng smiled at each other and agreed on a time to sign the contract.

The dinner was over and we got in a taxi back.

The two chatted, "Old Huang, Xu Zheng is someone you can emulate. You should accumulate experience in the next two years."

"If you want to take this path in the future, the conditions I set for Xu Zheng today will also work for you."

Huang Bo was stunned, and then he nodded and said simply, "Thank you."

On the other side, Xu Zheng was still very excited in the car.

I didn't expect such a surprise at today's dinner.

He knew clearly that as long as a director had fame and box office success, he would not lack investment.

That's why he just claimed that he doesn't want any director's fee or any pay.

After the first day of growth, Stone's reputation reached a new high on the second day, closing at 925 million.

Lengshan dropped to 185 million.

This caused a complete uproar on the internet. The combined box office of the other four movies on May 1st was less than half of Stone's.

This phenomenal low-budget work is simply incredible.

Han Sanping called again.

"Li Chen, you are really too enviable."

"The cost is four or five million. If the trend continues, it is not impossible to break 100 million!"

Li Chen smiled and said, "Boss Han, is this what you called me to talk about so early in the morning?"

Han Sanping said, "Nonsense! Are you free tonight? Come out for dinner and I'll introduce someone to you."

Well, the way he was said really doesn't treat him as an outsider, it's almost an imperative tone.

Li Chen smiled bitterly and said, "Well, who is so prestigious that I would bother you to come here."

Han Sanping said: "Yudong, you have come to me several times. Let's meet once. How you deal with each other in the future is your own business."

Yu Dong from Bona is an old subordinate of Han Sanping. We have to give him this face, but whether they can cooperate in the future is another matter.

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(End of this chapter)