Chapter 18: Investing in Xu Zheng
Right after Huang Bo left, Han Sanping's call came in, his words filled with a strong hint of envy.
"I told you, kid, you're really a strange one. I wasn't optimistic when you wanted to increase the number of copies back then, but now it seems it's simply not enough."
"Han Dong, next time, please think a little more highly of me, just a little bit, haha."
"Alright, you're getting arrogant now. I'll increase the number of copies on my end. Just giving you a heads-up."
After hanging up on 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 plans tonight. How about the day after tomorrow?"
"No problem. See you the day after tomorrow evening. I'll send you the address shortly."
After hanging up, Li Chen called Yang Siwei again, telling her he would take her to meet her mentor the day after tomorrow.
Yang Siwei quickly got into the swing of things. She was, after all, a top student from the Communication University.
After The Crazy Stone's first-day box office results were released, Yang Siwei, as the artist director, kept issuing press releases, with China Film Group Corporation following close behind.
QQ messages, text messages, and phone calls congratulating him poured in, and Li Chen was the topic of discussion all over the school.
By the afternoon, a piece of news made it to the hot search list online.
"Beijing Film Academy's top student, young Director Li Chen, had already completed two novels during high school."
"The two novels respectively topped the best-seller lists of Rongshuxia Online Literature in 2002 and 2003."
"According to informed sources, the copyright fees for the two novels exceeded one million."
Li Chen only learned about this news from Liu Yifei.
"So you're Nuan Yang Ji Yue, you big liar!"
"How did you know?"
"Didn't you see the hot search?"
Li Chen quickly opened his laptop to check, and sure enough, the first few hot searches in the entertainment section of the portal sites were all related to him.
It's true that people fear fame just as pigs fear getting fat!
Another QQ message came in.
"So my copy was originally signed and dedicated by the author, hehe!"
"Is this what you meant by a gift?"
Li Chen thought for a moment, then decided to keep her guessing and tell her when they met.
"Yes, and no."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you when I visit the set at the end of the month."
"Alright..."
Then came another wave of text messages and phone calls.
The QQ group was buzzing.
"So those years was written by Director Li, Director Li is so talented! This couldn't be Director Li's youthful confession, could it?"
"Then I must read it carefully."
"I've already bought both books."
"I'm going to buy them too."
Li Chen ignored all this. He had an appointment with Xu Zheng for a hotpot dinner at Donglaishun that evening.
Li Chen and Huang Bo went together. When they arrived, Xu Zheng was already there.
Entering the private room, Xu Zheng stood up.
"Director Li."
"Sit down, don't be so formal. You're not an outsider."
"Exactly, both of you are directors. Please take good care of me, a small actor, in the future, haha."
Xu Zheng smiled, "Compared to Director Li, what kind of director am I?"
Li Chen laughed, "Who says you're not?"
Li Wei the Official 2 was co-directed by Xu Zheng and Zhou Shi, and it was Xu Zheng's directorial debut.
Filming began last August, and Xu Zheng later came to The Crazy Stone for a cameo role.
Xu Zheng's role in The Crazy Stone was not extensive; he finished filming in two or three days, then returned to the Li Wei the Official 2 crew.
Xu Zheng said enviously, "I still need to learn from Director Li. TV dramas are not as promising."
Li Chen then asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Xu Zheng smiled and said, "Take on acting jobs and save money. Once I have a foundation, I think I'd still prefer to make movies."
Huang Bo listened to their conversation and interjected, "Both directors, the meat is getting cold."
Li Chen laughed, "Old Huang is right. Let's eat first. The stomach is the biggest thing in the world."
After a while, Xu Zheng put down his chopsticks, raised a glass to Li Chen, and said, "Director Li, do you have any good advice for me?"
Li Chen took a small sip, "Your idea is correct, I have no advice. But I can invest in you, saving you a few years of struggle."
This was truly an unexpected surprise. Xu Zheng was overjoyed, "Director Li, you're not joking, are you?"
Huang Bo also stopped interjecting, his heart filled with envy.
However, he knew he couldn't compare to Xu Zheng at the moment, so he wasn't jealous.
But he remembered their conversation.
Li Chen laughed, "Investment has risks, and I never joke. But in business, since I'm investing, there must be a return."
Xu Zheng understood and quickly said, "Director Li, I can forgo the director's fee and even act for free."
Li Chen laughed, "You misunderstood my meaning. I can see you're a person with ideas."
Xu Zheng asked doubtfully, "Then what does Director Li mean?"
Li Chen said, "The director's fee and acting salary should be whatever they are. But I have two conditions. What do you think?"
"Director Li, please speak."
Li Chen nodded and said, "1. In the future, if I have a good script that needs you to direct, you cannot refuse. Of course, the director's fee will not be a penny less."
"2. In the future, if you direct a movie, my company will have priority investment rights, and the investment share will not be less than 30%."
Xu Zheng was stunned, "Just these two?"
Li Chen smiled, "Just these two."
Xu Zheng only hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "I agree!"
Li Chen raised his glass and smiled, "Cheers to our cooperation."
Xu Zheng also excitedly raised his glass, "Director Li, cheers to our cooperation."
Huang Bo shouted, also raising his glass, "Hey, hey, hey, don't forget about me! Both directors, you absolutely must remember me."
Li Chen and Xu Zheng exchanged a smile, and they agreed on a time to sign the contract.
The dinner party ended, and they were in the taxi on the way back.
The two chatted, "Old Huang, Xu Zheng is someone you can emulate. Accumulate for two good years."
"If you want to go down this path in the future, the conditions I offered Xu Zheng today will apply to you as well."
Huang Bo was stunned, grateful in his heart, and simply nodded, saying, "Thank you."
On the other side, Xu Zheng was still very excited in the car.
He hadn't expected such a surprise at tonight's dinner.
He clearly knew that as long as a director had fame and box office success, they wouldn't lack investment.
That's why he had just claimed he didn't want a director's fee or a free acting role.
After the first day of fermentation, The Crazy Stone's reputation reached new heights on the second day, bringing in 9.25 million.
cold mountain, on the other hand, dropped to 1.85 million.
The internet was completely abuzz now. On May 1st, the combined box office of the other four movies was less than half of The Crazy Stone's.
This phenomenal low-budget work was simply incredible.
Han Sanping's call came again.
"Li Chen, you're making people too envious."
"With a cost of four to five million, at this rate, breaking 100 million isn't impossible!"
Li Chen smiled, "Han Dong, did you call so early just to say that?"
Han Sanping said, "Nonsense! Are you free tonight? If so, come out for dinner. I'll introduce you to someone."
Uh, his words really didn't treat him as an outsider; it was practically a command.
Li Chen gave a wry smile, "Alright, who's so important that you'd go to such trouble?"
Han Sanping said, "Yu Dong. He's contacted me a few times. Just meet him once, and how you two get along after that is your own business."
Yu Dong from Bona, an old subordinate of Han Sanping. This favor had to be granted, but whether they would cooperate in the future was another matter.
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