Over at the variety show, the trainees quickly entered the second stage of performance training after a day's rest.
There are judges and teachers who help the students decide on the drama. This is also the core part of the second stage of daily recording. Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei do not need to participate. The young couple gradually become addicted to the game in their leisure time at home.
Being in the company of close people and being able to communicate with each other makes playing games even more fun.
Facing various different styles of games, the novelty and novelty in them made Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei play the games for several days without getting tired of them and having a great time.
As newbies in the gaming industry, they play various games with strange gameplay in their eyes. Because they do not know the details and operate improperly, they are often criticized by players they encounter.
The young couple could only apologize in their hearts, laugh it off, and continue to inadvertently annoy many players, causing their game missions to temporarily stop.
People are addicted to food. Such players have always been a cancer in the gaming industry. Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei do not really play games, but just try different games with the mentality of understanding the ecological environment of web games. For various
They don't care about the specific gameplay of the game, so they can only go down this path of game cancer and never return.
"Ahhhh - dead again!"
Liu Yifei put down the mouse, crossed her arms, and looked at the computer screen angrily.
In the game page, the horned BOSS beat her chest and showed off her power, then returned to her original position to regain full health, while her little beauty character lay on the ground and declared dead.
Wang Jinhua is silent. The cost is too high and there is a high probability that no one will invest. This is indeed a headache.
How many entertainment companies can afford this kind of money? Even Bright Times cannot afford it, unless it sells its shares in Micro-Entertainment, which is obviously impossible.
As the chairman of Bright Times, Wang Jinhua must be the keynote speaker. She explained the situation of the theater to everyone through the PPT projected on the projector.
After playing the game for several days, it was still a variety of different types of games. At this moment, Liu Yifei obviously had the cognitive level of a normal player. She knew all the attributes of the characters. Even the game terminology of "flying a kite" was clear.
I understand.
But as it approaches mid-December in Beijing, the temperature outside is already approaching zero, making it cold just to think about it.
"How about this?" Meng Hongwei put down his legs and said: "Mr. Wang, Mr. Chu, the company wants to engage in science fiction, or a series of science fiction."
"I have watched "Hope" and it was very good." Shen Baohua praised.
But after hearing Chu Xuan say that this could be done with the help of China Film Group, they couldn't help but look at Han Sanping.
"Humph, I will think of it sooner or later." Liu Yifei said unconvinced.
"However." He added: "As investors, we don't need to understand these things. We just need to have an idea of a general direction in a framework. So from my understanding, your ideas coincide with mine."
The movie theaters of the Brilliant Era have been built, and they all know that they can't make much money, so it's considered a good situation without too much loss.
Chu Xuan looked at Liu Yifei for a few seconds, and when he saw the excitement on Liu Yifei's face, he gave a thumbs up: "Okay, I just mentioned that you have said so much, there is progress."
"But the cost of science fiction movies is too high after all, and we cannot predict the future domestic and foreign markets. So we can make the movie like this, but we are not in a hurry to schedule it for release." Meng Hongwei suggested.
Since the ticket price is basically between 30 and 40 yuan, and the average salary of people in the current era is only about 2,000 yuan, most people from ordinary families will not go to the cinema to watch movies a few times a year.
Developing results.
Everyone nodded. They were just shareholders and attracting investment had nothing to do with them. Since Wang Jinhua said so, they said no more.
Thinking of this, they also recalled this scene. After hearing that Wang Jinhua brought this matter up at the meeting, they looked meaningfully at Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei, and guessed what they would discuss next.
"But." Chu Xuan interrupted him, glanced at Han Sanping and said: "With the help of China Film Group, the movie can be released in North America and Europe, even if the domestic box office market in 2009 is not what we need.
Given the scale, I think the box office is still promising."
Chu Xuan smiled and said: "If you need to top up money to buy this set of equipment, would you be willing?"
I've beaten him many times but still can't kill this ugly monster. I'm so angry!
"Basically?" Liu Yifei raised her eyebrows and asked while fighting the BOSS: "Go and get the equipment first? But today's dungeon mission has been completed, and there is no way to get the equipment."
Liu Yifei blurted out: "The equipment is not good, the attack power is not enough, and the armor is not enough. If it touches it, it will lose a lot of blood, so I can only fly a kite."
Sister Hua said some time ago that after the completion of the Bright Times Cinema, it is necessary to hold a shareholders' meeting to explain the situation.
Everyone looked at Chu Xuan and nodded slightly.
"But, have you considered a situation, how to invest?"
Three hundred million?
The highest current box office market is only 300 million.
As a result, she gradually understood the nature of web games and expanded her knowledge and ideas about web games.
Chu Xuan shook his head: "These days we have experience playing various web games. Compared with client games, the pace of web games is too fast. Playing and playing repetitive missions every day makes it easy for players to
I have lost interest, so no matter how popular a web game is, I don’t think it will make much money, so we might as well get a few endorsements.”
Everyone raised their lips slightly, feeling Han Sanping's energy.
When the film and television company was established last year, everyone was observing special effects production in the office area. By chance, Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei showed them the script of "Hope", and then mentioned a science fiction trilogy in the office.
Imagine.
Han Sanping's words were undoubtedly telling them the news that he had the final say if foreign movies wanted to be released in China.
Chu Xuan nodded: "Mr. Meng is right, how can you do a loss-making business?"
Nowadays, the development of cinemas in the capital market is also planning for the future. Few capitals want to make a lot of money from cinemas now, because this is impossible. The box office volume is still very limited and the upper limit is not high in the box office market.
It is destined that the current cinema industry cannot make big money.
To reach this point, the theaters of the Bright Era can only continue to invest and vigorously develop due to the sluggish market.
Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei smiled slightly, while Wang Jinhua and Han Sanping also raised the corners of their mouths.
The shareholders present supported it from the perspective of business layout, but from the perspective of interests, they only hoped to invest less to reduce their losses.
It is a foregone conclusion to let the cinemas develop on their own. They will no longer be able to get profit dividends from this aspect in a few years. Naturally, they do not want to invest the funds of the head office into the bottomless pit of cinemas.
Immediately afterwards, Wang Jinhua talked about something about the development of cinemas, and everyone listened.
"It's enough to go once. I'm only interested in the first season of any show. The taste has changed since the second season." Chu Xuan put on his coat and picked up the scarf to help Liu Yifei put it on. The scarf was knitted by Liu Xiaoli herself.
Wang Jinhua looked at Chu Xuan.
Except for Han Sanping, Chen Kaige, Zhang Jizhong and Tang Jili, the other channel dealer shareholders present had not had in-depth dealings with this young man Chu Xuan.
"I don't want to invest again. If the cinema develops well on its own, I promise you that I will not invest again. But if it is necessary to invest again, I will discuss it with you. How about it?" Wang Jinhua smiled lightly and glanced around the crowd.
"Thank you." Chu Xuan nodded.
Bright Times Film Company is located on the fourth floor of the Bright Times Cinema built in the Fourth Ring Commercial District of Beijing. This is also one of the few super-large cinemas in Beijing.
"Yes." Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei said at the same time.
"Since the bosses have no objections, let's discuss another matter." Wang Jinhua opened the thermos cup and drank water.
Chu Xuan shook his head, and Liu Yifei raised her eyebrows. When talking to these capitals, she couldn't tell which words were true or false, and she felt very tired.
Chu Xuan moved the mouse with his hand, turned the chair, looked into Liu Yifei's eyes, and said softly: "You are talking about the framework, how to add the recharge entrance, and in what name or activity, how to recharge to buy equipment, etc.
, this also needs to be considered from the perspective of game planning.”
Yes, how do you get investment?
This is a very fatal problem.
Chu Xuan shook his head: "I am not a god. The box office market is completely decided by the audience. Who can know what the specific situation will be in 2009?"
She put down the thermos cup, looked at Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei, and then looked at everyone: "Mr. Chu and Producer Liu mentioned a science fiction plan to us when the film and television company was established last year. Do you bosses still remember it?"
Among the people present, only Chu Xuan was calmly playing with the teacup. He had a feeling that even if the movie was expected to lose money, he would be sure to win over investors to accompany him to play at a loss.
As an entertainment company, Bright Times wants to develop its own theaters, which is understandable and necessary.
Science fiction plan?... Everyone glanced at Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei, raised their eyebrows, and thought deeply.
Some people have already arrived, Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei said hello respectively, Wang Jinhua and Han Sanping bowed their heads slightly.
Everyone looked at Chu Xuan, wanting to see how he would answer.
After a while, Liu Yifei blinked, her eyes fluttering, she turned the computer chair to face Chu Xuan, grabbed his arm and shook it, and said excitedly: "I understand what you mean!"
None of these investors are fools. They clearly don’t understand the market, but they can analyze it clearly from just a few words. They are all smart people.
So, the domestic box office plus the foreign box office...
If your foreign movies are to be released in China, I, Han Sanping, need to sign. So, I, Han Sanping, can have a movie signed by your foreign producer to have a friendly exchange and reciprocity, okay?
If you don't sign, then I, Han Sanping, won't sign it for you either.
If Liu Yifei is stuck, she only needs to invest in one company?
Her brain was running rapidly, and she inexplicably thought of the micro-entertainment created by Chu Xuan. She seemed to have thought of something inadvertently, but her lack of experience prevented her from finding the key point.
Chu Xuan nodded, helped her put on her scarf, and then put on their hats and sunglasses. Chu Xuan took her hand and walked out.
There is such a gimmick, and with the special effects quality of "Hope", it seems that it can make a difference even in foreign markets where the place is unfamiliar.
In the current era, the domestic film industry is in a very sluggish state. Both the number of screens and the number of theaters are far behind North America and Europe.
Meng Hongwei leaned back in his chair, folded his hands, looked at Chu Xuan and said: "Mr. Chu, since you have your plan, you must know the market very well. It takes 300 million to cost 800 million to repay."
Currently, the highest grossing amount of a movie in the domestic box office market is nearly 300 million."
"Science fiction trilogy, that is, a series of science fiction movies." Shen Baohua paused and asked: "I don't know much about filmmaking, but I want to know, do your series of movies have a lot of special effects?"
Everyone nodded slowly, indicating that they had no objection.
"It's almost 2007. If we start a science fiction project at the beginning of the year, we will prepare the first part of a science fiction trilogy."
Wang Jinhua's decision to recycle theater income into development means that they will not be able to receive dividends from this part of the income in a few years, but this is a decision that must be made to develop theaters.
Without losing money, Bright Times can gain fame and open up the company's film development route. What can other investors get?
Cinemas are also a rarity. They are a meeting place for fashionable men and women, and a place of entertainment for Chinese-funded families.
Wang Jinhua looked at Chu Xuan with a smile, and then continued: "According to the discussion between Mr. Chu and I, and later on with Mr. Han in detail, we decided to temporarily separate the film company's finances from Bright Times Entertainment and let it develop on its own.
.”
Chu Xuan and Han Sanping looked at each other, then looked away.
Do you want Chinese movies to be released abroad? They don't know how to do it, but they know that the difficulty is as great as climbing to the sky.
"Mr. Chu." Another copyright channel dealer, President Shen Baohua, shouted.
"Currently, there are only 5,000 large screens and 1,700 theaters in the country. We now have 100 theaters and 323 screens, accounting for 6% to 7% of the country's industry share. The next step is to open up the market.
A strategy to convert industrial share into market share, achieve profitability, and achieve sustainable development.”
Chu Xuan laughed, reached out and pinched her face: "I hid it from you to guide you. Telling you directly would be counterproductive. There is still time, so you can think about it slowly."
Meng Hongwei raised his lips slightly and joked: "In your opinion, Mr. Chu, how many more years will it take?"
Chu Xuan, Liu Yifei and Han Sanping looked at everyone.
When everyone arrived, Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei followed them to the conference room.
There is heating in the room, so it is very warm even if you take off your coat.
After discussions between Sister Hua and the shareholders, they made an appointment to hold the shareholders' meeting at the film company today, and the shareholders also took the time to come from all over the country.
Chu Xuan crossed his legs and said: "As the country develops and the social economy improves, movie theaters are no longer a luxury place in the hearts of the people, so you can make a lot of money."
When he hung up the phone, Chu Xuan was about to stand up and said: "Let's go to the film company."
Liu Yifei wrinkled her nose and said in disbelief: "Then you have to tell me the direction of my thinking, right?"
"Foreign producers want their movies to be released in our country, and I want our movies to be released abroad. It's a courtesy, so it's not difficult." Han Sanping smiled lightly.
After hearing what Chu Xuan said, Meng Hongwei glanced at Chu Xuan a few times and nodded with a smile: "Mr. Chu is insightful and a person who does great things."
Han Sanping frowned. Without investment, the movie would not be launched, and his film and television industrialization plan would not be able to proceed smoothly.
"And all game props must be obtained step by step. It seems that the game is very balanced and fair to all players, but over time it will also make players lose the motivation to continue playing."
An easy way?...Liu Yifei didn't know what Chu Xuan meant, but she knew that there was something in Chu Xuan's words, and he should be guiding her.
"Mr. Meng, thank you very much." Chu Xuan said modestly.
Liu Yifei said "Humph", looking a little arrogant. She shook Chu Xuan's arm again and said playfully: "Am I right?"
"Brother Zhang."
"Recycling investment is a last resort. I can understand this and wait for it to bear fruit in the future. But I just hope that in the process of cinema development, if necessary, no further investment from the head office and investment companies will be possible."
." Copyright channel shareholder, Mr. Zheng, Zheng Kaiming, put his hands on the table and said.
Regarding the development of the cinema, Chu Xuan has a clear understanding of himself. He currently does not have the ability to control this situation. Sister Hua and Han Sanping are in control, so he does not need to worry about it.
"In my estimation, it won't be released until the end of 2008 or 2009."
As both shareholders of the company, they are not even friends. Their relationship is purely based on interests.
Liu Yifei was speechless. She only wanted to launch the science fiction project with Chu Xuan, but she did not expect that this key problem seemed difficult to solve.
Chu Xuan glanced at it, shook his head in amusement, and said, "Can't we win?"
"Teacher Kaige..."
"So, we can't look at this in terms of this year's box office market."
A movie needs to attract various investors to bear the risk. Under normal circumstances, no entertainment company will solely invest in a movie. No matter how rich it is, it is impossible to do such a stupid thing, let alone an investment of 300 million.
"We will handle the investment matters. If we can succeed, we will succeed. If not, let's talk about it." Wang Jinhua said.
Everyone was startled.
However, since Chu Xuan said this, it shows that Chu Xuan already has a plan in mind.
Every time she and Chu Xuan changed games, it was the most interesting at the beginning. The various fresh gameplays were the motivation for them to continue playing. However, after playing for a few days, they found that the game process began to enter a repetitive cycle.
Hearing Chu Xuan's question, she said without thinking from the perspective of a player: "Get this good equipment and kill this BOSS!"
Meng Hongwei looked thoughtful, nodded slowly, leaned back on his chair, crossed his legs, and said: "I'm sorry, I'm short-sighted. So Mr. Chu, do you think that by 2009, the box office market can sustain it?"
How about a movie with a box office of more than 800 million?"
"Once it is completed, maybe Bright Times will embark on a unique development route based on the situation of seeking common ground while reserving differences in the domestic entertainment industry. Being different means that it will reduce competitiveness, and we will be the ones who eat crabs."
Will Brilliant Era be a science fiction film?
Want to bring the science fiction trilogy mentioned by Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei to the big screen?
"So, we can add a recharge entrance to the web game. As you just said, use money to recharge to buy equipment. Breaking the balance of this game will definitely make some players feel competition and passion, and then let these players drive downstream
Players, maybe the whole game will become active."
Han Sanping raised his head slightly and said: "For foreign films to be released in the country, they need to be produced by the China Film Group, and they also need to be signed by the chairman of the China Film Group. This is the regulation for the introduction of foreign films in our country, otherwise the foreign films cannot be released in the country.
Released, and foreign films released in China in recent years have also gone through these processes."
However, facing such a large investment, everyone present was trying their best not to lose money.
"What are your thoughts?" Liu Yifei pouted: "We have been discussing it for so many days, it's time for you to tell me, right? You've been hiding this from your girlfriend, so sorry for you."
Isn’t it a waste of money to make this movie?
Wang Jinhua, Han Sanping, Chen Kaige, Tang Jili and Zhang Jizhong remained calm. They were more or less aware of the market and roughly knew the range of the cost.
If a person does the same thing every day, he will become bored and lose interest if he thinks about it.
"Yes, at least don't lose money." Meng Hongwei nodded.
She looked at Chu Xuan and pouted angrily when she saw that Chu Xuan didn't say anything more.
"Teacher He asked us if we were going to the New Year's Eve party." Liu Yifei clasped her buttons with both hands.
"We will decide whether to release it based on market conditions." Wang Jinhua understood what he meant.
Liu Yifei nodded repeatedly, a little annoyed, and the next moment she muttered angrily: "I'm going to kill it today!"
Meng Hongwei frowned and wanted to speak again.
After drinking tea in the office for a while, shareholders arrived one after another.
The other shareholders frowned, then relaxed their brows after thinking for a while and had no objection.
Shen Baohua lowered his head slightly and tapped his fingers on the table: "The cost of "Hope" was 15 million, and it only took a few minutes of special effects. If it were expanded to make a complete science fiction movie, how high would the cost be?"
Based on this, no one is willing to invest in this project, which seems to be a very serious problem and an issue that is difficult to discuss.
This movie is destined to make little money, so who else would be willing to invest?
"So, we must solve the problem fundamentally." Chu Xuan said while controlling his character to play.
Several channel dealer shareholders raised their eyebrows and flashed a look of surprise.
"When it comes to this, with the help of Mr. Han's China Film Group, I have no objection to the company making science fiction."
Regarding Chu Xuan, apart from his status as a big star, only his status as the founder of micro-entertainment made them not despise Chu Xuan.
"Mr. Chu, Mr. Wang." Shen Baohua, a shareholder of the channel merchant, said: "You are the actual controllers of the company. In the end, we cannot object to whatever decision you make. But if you can put this matter on the table, we feel comfortable."
."
Liu Yifei raised her eyebrows and thought for a moment, it seemed that this was really the case.
Everyone nodded, and they all understood what Han Sanping said.
The data on the USB flash drive shows that a web game company only has a few web game projects. How many companies would it need to invest in if it has 10,000 games? How is this possible?
Several channel dealers were slightly stunned, and they also knew that Han Sanping, the chairman of China Film Group, was most likely the next chairman of China Film Group.
The young couple came to the parking garage, got in the car, and headed to the movie studio.
Chu Xuan lowered his eyebrows and thought for a while, then put down his crossed legs, leaned forward like Meng Hongwei, crossed his hands on the table, looked at him and said: "Mr. Meng, the production of a movie requires a person.
This is especially true for sci-fi movies that are procedural and focus on special effects."
"Just an estimate, three hundred million." Chu Xuan smiled slightly.
Everyone listened and expressed their understanding.
The investment and construction cycle of theaters is relatively long. It takes nearly a year from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. The market has changed, and prices and labor have increased. This is a normal result.
"Because balance represents a perfect world, and a perfect world means no pursuit, and no pursuit means boredom. Players will change games when they are bored. When players change games, the game will have no profit. Without profit, the game will not be able to run.
Go down."
"Third brother."
Liu Yifei calmed down her thoughts, and then said in a slightly excited tone: "The web games we have been playing these days, the web games with a lot of people have to use point cards to play, while the web games with a small number of people can be played for free.
, but none of these games have a recharge entrance like Kart Racing.”
Chu Xuan couldn't help laughing, watching Liu Yifei pick up the mouse to control the character and throw skills, he said: "Do you know why you can't beat it?"
Although Han Sanping didn't say it clearly, everyone present also knew what this courtesy exchange meant.
Chu Xuan thought for a moment and nodded slowly: "One game can't make a lot of money, but what about ten games? What about a hundred games? What about a thousand games? What about ten thousand games?"
"I don't know how entertainment companies develop specifically, but I also know the influence of the series of movies and the chain and derivative benefits that influence will have on the company."
"Mr. Shen." Chu Xuan responded.
In the process of playing games these days, Chu Xuan always used some of the game's gameplay and functions to remind her of some of Chu Xuan's own ideas, guiding her to jump out of the game box and observe the page from the dual perspectives of players and game planners.
tour.
At this time, Chu Xuan's cell phone received a call, and the ringtone broke her thoughts.
"It is expected to invest 150 million yuan. During the construction process, with the economic development in various places, prices and labor force have increased, and the investment funds have fluctuated. The final investment is nearly 170 million yuan."
Therefore, to make a science fiction movie about Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei, it is necessary to attract other investors.
"All revenue will be recycled into the development of each theater, including but not limited to expanding the scale of the theater and reaching the standards for applying for theater chains as soon as possible. This will be of great help to the development of Bright Times and the production of movies."
"Come on, when your ideas and mine reach a consensus, we will consider the next step." Chu Xuan smiled and picked up the phone to answer.
But there seems to be some potential for science fiction movies.
Chu Xuan drove around the door and came to the back of the theater to park. With the help of the staff, he and Liu Yifei walked into the theater from the emergency exit and took the special elevator to the fourth floor.
He leaned forward, crossed his hands on the table, and said, "Can I understand that you still want to make a science fiction movie knowing that you will lose money?"
Liu Yifei smiled and said happily: "Then we will use this idea to find companies for investment?"
Chu Xuan smiled pretending to be mysterious and stretched out a finger: "I only need to invest in one company to make money from 10,000 games."
Meng Hongwei patted the table, grinned and said, "Chu is always a person who does great things."
Chu Xuan kept smiling, crossed his hands on his knees, and said: "I don't know how many years it will take, but I know that if we wait until it can make money, we will always eat other people's ashes; when it doesn't make money, we will
On the contrary, if we vigorously develop it, by the time it can make money, others will eat our ashes."
The funds of the head office are jointly owned by them. The more they invest without seeing any returns, it is equivalent to sacrificing their interests.
"That's right." Liu Yifei let Chu Xuan help her put on the scarf and said with a smile: "Just like Sister Hua said, the first season of a show has a completely new gameplay, and all departments are also in the process of exploring it. The program team has not
I don’t have enough energy to do things, but there will be scripts arranged starting from the second season.”
It would be unreasonable to even think about showing a martial arts movie abroad, and the publicity and distribution expenses would probably not be recouped.
When passing by the entrance of the theater, a light box advertisement for "A City of Gold" was placed at the entrance. Many movie fans came in and out. It seemed that business was good.
"If other types of movies reciprocate, if there is no additional political purpose, it would be somewhat unreliable. But if science fiction movies reciprocate, compared with other types of movies in terms of foreign audiences, the box office can be expected." Han Sanping added.
said.
For him and Liu Yifei, the discussion on the science fiction project was what they cared about more.
"Released abroad?" Several channel dealers were startled.
Liu Yifei nodded, and Chu Xuan stood up, each holding a coat and putting them on.
"sister."
An entertainment company has its own theater, which is one of the factors that determines the company's status in the capital circle.
Use money to recharge to buy equipment?... Liu Yifei was stunned. She suddenly thought of something and fell into deep thought. Even the character in the game was killed by the BOSS again, and she didn't know it.
Chu Xuan nodded, and asked casually and seemingly as a reminder: "If there was an easy way for you to get a good set of equipment, what would you think?"
In this regard, Wang Jinhua and them temporarily reached a consensus.
Ten thousand games?...Liu Yifei was stunned. Although she didn't know how difficult it was to make a game, this number was obviously beyond imagination. She was shocked and said: "You want to invest in ten thousand games? How is it possible!"
If it is really shot, the movie produced by Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei will be the first science fiction blockbuster in China.
As Chu Xuan said, in this case, we can only consider future development and hope that the future box office market can support the theaters of the Brilliant Era and achieve large-scale profits.
Everyone present knew the market situation. One of the shareholders, Meng Hongwei, the general manager of the advertising channel of Bright Times, took a sip of tea and said: "Based on the current situation, movie theaters cannot make much money."
"We can work on the script first. It doesn't cost a lot of money. By the way, we can follow Mr. Chu's idea and experiment with the industrialization of screenwriting. As for the filming, we will discuss it when the time comes," Han Sanping said.
His idea is very simple. Put aside the investment matter, which will not affect the overall planning of the script. By the way, he will also try the industrialization method of screenwriting that Chu Xuan mentioned last time to see if it works.
"Okay." Wang Jinhua nodded and glanced at everyone: "That's it, let's go have a meal."
Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei got up with everyone and walked out of the conference room one by one, preparing to go to the dinner party.
