A purple Porsche passed through the busy urban area. After entering the suburbs, the visible flow of people gradually decreased until there was no human habitation and only the occasional vehicle passed by.
Liu Yifei was sitting in the back seat, looking out the window at the boundless sea. As she got closer to the villa area halfway up the mountain, she became a little nervous.
What she is about to face is the capital of Hollywood, and she is also her elder in terms of age. Even though she and Jack are now friends, she still feels a little uneasy when facing such a situation alone.
She lowered her head to open the bag, took out a red women's wallet, and opened the attached metal buckle with a slight "dong" sound. The first thing she saw when she opened the wallet was a photo of Chu Xuan and her.
She looked at Chu Xuan for a few seconds and recalled her phone call with Chu Xuan in the hotel. Chu Xuan seemed to have a soothing effect on her, and most of the uneasiness in her heart dissipated and she calmed down.
She fastened her wallet again and put it into her bag. From the corner of her eye, she saw the tense profile of Grande in the passenger seat.
The relationship between Grande and Jack's parents is not friendly. Going to Jack's house now makes Grande extremely nervous.
Liu Yifei stretched out her hand and pressed her shoulder. Ailand turned around and looked at her. After exchanging glances, they returned to their normal sitting posture without knowing it.
"Don't worry, with Sissy here, at least my parents won't make fun of you today." Jack noticed the little actions of the sisters just now and comforted his girlfriend Ellender.
Ireland nodded, Sissi was a distinguished guest, and there was no way she could be sarcastic in front of Sissi.
Thinking of this, she relaxed a little.
After some time, the vehicle stopped at the door of the villa, and Macron and his wife were waiting at the door.
"Miss Sissi, welcome to your arrival." The Macrons were very enthusiastic. They found out Liu Yifei's name from their son and also learned her English name Sissi.
The Chinese characters for "Liu Yi Fei" were difficult to pronounce, so they simply called her "Xian Qian".
Liu Yifei was a little flattered to be greeted like this by two elders.
"Hello, uncle and aunt, just call me Sissi." She shook hands and greeted politely.
Macron and his wife were stunned for a moment, uncle and aunt? This is a title they did not expect.
But thinking that their son and Liu Yifei are friends, they recognized it in their hearts and felt very useful and comfortable.
They are people seeking investment, and Liu Yifei is an investor.
One asks for help and the other gives help. In this relationship, they should be more polite. Unexpectedly, Liu Yifei is so polite. This really makes them feel comfortable and they have a good impression of Liu Yifei.
"Come in quickly." The Macrons glanced at Grande and warmly invited Liu Yifei.
They turned around and led Liu Yifei into the house. Grande and Jack looked at each other, but they still had the same lukewarm attitude toward her, and she shrugged helplessly.
Jack patted her back to comfort her, and followed the footsteps of the three people in front of her with her.
In the villa, the nanny was bringing a plate of steak to the dining table. Liu Yifei, who was brought to the restaurant, saw this scene. She was just starting to eat as soon as she arrived. She had obviously calculated the time and prepared it in advance. This was so enthusiastic.
.
She was a little embarrassed and sat down at the warm invitation of Macron and his wife.
The reason why Macron and his wife are so enthusiastic is of course because of the strength of Liu Yifei, or the strength of Chu Xuan and Bright Times behind Liu Yifei. This strength can completely enable them and Macron to turn the corner.
Otherwise, Macron and his wife would not have invited three relatively reliable investors, including Kim Jae-hee, to their home for a second negotiation, as they did some time ago. Liu Yifei was the last one among the investors being negotiated.
"Sissi, what you and Jack talked about, Jack told us, that Bright Times has been selecting and purchasing novel, film and television rights around the world since its establishment. It's a bit strange that such a thing happened to a Chinese entertainment company.
I believe it, I want to confirm again." Old Jack cut the steak with a knife and fork and looked at Liu Yifei.
Jack was responsible for the preliminary negotiations, which focused on clear cooperation intentions and general direction of cooperation.
After clarifying the intention of cooperation and having a general direction of cooperation, Old Jack will discuss the details of the cooperation direction.
To solve Macron's dilemma, the first step is to have a capital chain that allows Macron to operate normally for a long time.
Neither Kim Jae-hee nor the people we talked to before, including Liu Yifei in front of us, are all short of the funds that Macron needs, and each has a deep financial reserve.
This is the simplest point, and there is no need to discuss it now. It can be left to subsequent negotiations.
The second step is to deal with the outside world first. If the company can operate normally for a long time, it will naturally be necessary to seek opportunities from the outside world or make movies and TV series to revitalize the company, instead of just running internally without any income.
Seeking external cooperation opportunities is very passive and depends on luck.
To make a self-made film or television drama, you need a script, and the script comes from the copyright of novels or comics.
As for originality? This has begun to be abandoned by Hollywood. The price to pay and bear for originality is too high, and the risks are much greater compared with novels and comics that have already opened up the fan market.
"Yes." Liu Yifei nodded and took a small bite of the steak on the knife and fork.
Macron and his wife looked at each other and heard from Jack that Bright Era had a large number of overseas novels, film and television rights, which shocked them.
Why do Chinese entertainment companies want to buy overseas novel, film and television rights?
Chinese entertainment companies are well-known in Hollywood, including Yinghuang, Huayi, etc., but have these companies purchased overseas novels, film and television rights?
No!
Why not buy it?
It’s useless for Chinese entertainment companies to make their overseas movies for Chinese people to watch. Are the Chinese crews sure they can make them well? Do they have such an industrial foundation? Are there corresponding overseas artists to choose from? The director understands European and American culture.
?
These things are currently beyond the reach of China and are lacking.
In other words, they can also localize their overseas novels and comics?
This is even more impossible. What is the difference between Chineseizing a novel that has European and American cultural elements from beginning to end and being original? It is even worse than being directly original.
If it is localized, it will offend a large number of fans around the world, and even Chinese audiences will not buy it.
This thing, at best it sounds like localization, but at worst it sounds like plagiarism.
Therefore, in the view of the couple, it is understandable that any company in Europe and the United States has judged the development direction of Hollywood with a long-term perspective and purchased the film and television copyrights of novels in advance.
But this happened to Chinese entertainment companies. They couldn't understand it at first, but when Jack explained the direction of cooperation proposed by Liu Yifei, they were shocked.
The shocking thing is that, regardless of cooperation, Bright Times intends to use the copyrights of these novels to make money overseas.
Good guy, I heard that Bright Times had this plan just after it was founded. Is this company very ambitious, or is it a far-sighted decision made by mistake?
For a new company that has not yet developed its domestic market, it wants to capture their Hollywood profits. Where does this give it the confidence?
People who make such decisions simply do not think in a normal way. If experts in the global entertainment market economy were to judge from the perspective of the bright era at that time, they would not make such a decision, right?
However, I heard from Jack that it should be Chu Xuan’s decision. A person who started micro-entertainment at the age of 20 and earned more than 100 million US dollars in a few months. Is it normal to think that his thinking is abnormal?
If you think in your right mind, how many people can earn more than 100 million US dollars in a few months?
Thinking of this, Macron and his wife, like their son Jack, have a strong desire and curiosity to meet Chu Xuan.
After hearing Liu Yifei's confirmation again, the couple knew that Bright Times not only provided Macron with the funds to operate, but also had the copyright resources to allow Macron to develop uninterruptedly.
Before formal cooperation, it was necessary to confirm the ownership of the copyright of the novel owned by Bright Times. They did not consider whether Liu Yifei deceived them because there was no meaning or value in deceiving.
"If we cooperate in this area, will you not interfere with our filming and production?" Old Jack asked, poking a piece of broccoli with a knife and fork to eat.
Liu Yifei shook her head: "There are specialties in the art industry, and whoever can do it better is of course up to him. Interfering will only cause chaos, but we have the right to participate in the whole process of observation and learning and exchange, and have the initiative in the selection of some roles.
.”
Macron and his wife nodded slightly. They were very satisfied with Liu Yifei's statement, but they were afraid that those who didn't understand would cause trouble to those who understood.
When Zhang Yimou released "Hero" in North America, some Hollywood companies also studied it for some time.
But they don't quite understand how the effects shown in the movie were achieved.
They also want to explore how the martial arts movements and makeup are so perfectly combined with light and shadow.
In this regard, Zhang Yimou can be called a master in front of them.
But, let Zhang Yimou try to make a Hollywood movie?
How to perfectly combine special effects with characters, how to "realize" large 3D modeling scenes on the screen one to one, how to effectively delete frames and interpolate frames in post-production so that every frame looks naturally connected and perfect.
Screen, etc.
None of the Chinese directors are proficient in these things.
It also corresponds to what Liu Yifei just said, there are specialties in the art industry, and let those who do it better do the corresponding professional things.
"The selection of some roles..." Old Jack took all the broccoli into his mouth and said, "Can I understand that the Chinese actors you sent, or the entertainers from the brilliant era, can play some roles?
The right role?”
"Yes." Liu Yifei nodded.
"Under the right circumstances, there can be at most one or two movies per movie." Old Jack appealed.
"Naturally." Liu Yifei agreed.
"Except for the male and female protagonists." Old Jack confirmed.
"Except for the male and female protagonists." Liu Yifei made it clear.
Hearing this, Old Jack felt relieved. As long as the male and female protagonists were not Chinese, everything would be easy to handle and it would not affect the movie's box office and audience market.
At least in movies set in European and American culture, the male and female protagonists can only be European and American.
Just like in movies based on traditional Chinese culture, the male and female protagonists can only have Chinese faces.
"What about publicity and operations?" Old Jack asked a question in the direction of in-depth cooperation.
Liu Yifei took a sip of milk and said: "If it is released in China, then the promotion and operation in China will belong to us, and the overseas ones will belong to you. Each will conduct familiar operations in a familiar market. This is more efficient and can avoid causing inconveniences."
A necessary waste of money and resources.”
"That's not fair." Jones shook his head: "China uses RMB, but we use U.S. dollars here. And judging from the current Chinese market, it doesn't cost much to advertise and operate, but ours costs thousands.
It starts at 10,000 US dollars. If we promote it in this way, we will suffer a huge loss."
Liu Yifei smiled lightly, put down the glass, raised her hands and folded them on the table, and said: "Auntie, you have to know, without our brilliant era, how would your movie be released in China?"
"If it is not released in China, you will not get any profit share from the Chinese market, so how can it be fair or unfair?"
"Even if there is no Chinese market, if your movie is based on your method, it should be announced and released."
"And if it is released in China, you will get an extra share of the box office for nothing."
Jones looked at Liu Yifei and said, "But without us, your movie wouldn't be able to be released overseas."
Liu Yifei kept smiling and wrinkled her nose cutely: "Auntie, are you testing me because I'm young?"
"I sincerely come to talk about cooperation, but I don't have to cooperate with you. Bright Times can also cooperate with other companies through the channels of China Film Group. It doesn't mean that we can only cooperate with you to be released overseas."
"Moreover, Yinghuang Entertainment in Xiangjiang is also a partner of Brilliant Times, and it also has overseas distribution channels."
"Cough." Old Jack coughed, as if he was reminding him of something.
Jones blushed slightly and lowered his head to eat the steak.
Jack glanced at his mother, feeling helpless.
Mom is good at everything, but she always likes to make careful calculations to show how smart she is.
But do you think Liu Yifei is stupid? Even if Liu Yifei can't figure out some things, there is Chu Xuan behind her, okay?
This is just a negotiation, not a final contract signing to clarify the cooperative relationship. What's the use of your calculations?
Finally, when Chu Xuan took a look at the contract, he found a loophole in the terms and still couldn't sign it?
Mom...you said you are over 50 years old, but you want to bully a 20-year-old girl, but in the end you shoot yourself in the foot. I am really embarrassed for you.
"Jack said that if we cooperate, the overseas box office will be divided into your accounts according to the normal proportion. The extra proportion deducted by the intermediary distributor needs to be refunded in proportion?" Old Jack changed the topic to avoid his wife's continued embarrassment.
Liu Yifei nodded: "That's right."
"Then if it is released in China, shouldn't you do the same? Return the excess deductions to us?" Old Jack asked.
Liu Yifei replied: "Yes."
"Then this is really unfair." Jones said seriously this time, "Looking at the current Chinese market, the 10% box office share is far different from the 10% share for overseas global release."
"Okay, that's it." Old Jack frowned.
Jones was stunned for a moment, his brain spinning rapidly, and then he understood what his husband was considering. He was probably focused on the future of the Chinese market.
Old Jack lowered his head and took a bite of steak. He was indeed optimistic about the future of China's box office market.
Just looking at it now, they did lose money. 10% of the box office in China and 10% of the global box office, no matter how you look at it, it is a huge profit for Brilliant Era.
But if the Chinese market picks up, then he predicts they won't lose money.
If there is no loss in this case, there will be no loss if we don’t return the deductions to each other, so what is the use of dividing the box office accounts by returning the deductions to each other?
If the two companies confirm cooperation, this will create a foreign exchange issue.
Bright Era just needs to set up a shell company in Hollywood, and Macron can set up a company in the capital of China. When they finally return the deductions from the box office, Bright Era will use RMB to return Macron's company in Beijing. Macron
Use U.S. dollars to pay back Bright Times’ companies in Hollywood.
Then, the returned RMB is Macron’s foreign exchange reserves in China, and the returned U.S. dollars are the foreign exchange reserves of Brilliant Era in Hollywood.
Having sufficient foreign exchange reserves will be more convenient when conducting cross-border settlements or business transactions.
Countries have restrictions on foreign exchange, and large amounts of foreign exchange are subject to a very cumbersome review process. When the country carries out macro-control of currency, the foreign exchange acceptance is likely to fail.
Perhaps as long as you wait patiently, you will succeed, but people abroad who do business with you cannot wait for several months. For multinational or international cooperation companies, it is very important to have sufficient foreign exchange reserves.
"How many shares do you need?" Old Jack finished the steak and put the cutlery on the plate.
"The right to solicit decisions." Liu Yifei didn't know how many shares were needed to have this right in the equity structure of Los Angeles, so she directly proposed this right.
She put down the tableware and couldn't finish most of the steak. She said: "After all, it involves cooperation between enterprises from the two countries. If we can't participate in decision-making discussions, it will be difficult for us to operate movies in China. Our homemade movies
It also needs to be distributed overseas through you, and we also need to make suggestions on publicity, distribution and operations."
Old Jack nodded: "Sissi, I generally understand your cooperation. We also need time to appraise and estimate Macron's overall value. I also see Sissi's sincerity. All cooperation is a win-win situation."
.”
He looked at Liu Yifei: "When we have everything ready, we will give you a call and invite you to visit Macron and have a final conversation."
"Okay, I'll wait for Uncle Macron's call." Liu Yifei said happily, her heart filled with excitement, this is done again.
Uncle Macron? This girl has such a sweet mouth... Old Jack raised his smile: "If the final step is agreed, then please take us to China to visit the glorious era."
Liu Yifei raised her eyebrows. At that moment, when her behavior was revealed to Chu Xuan and Sister Hua, she was fully expecting the reactions of Chu Xuan and Sister Hua. Of course, the premise was that everything went well.
"Okay, Auntie is coming too, so are Jack and Grande. My fiancé and I, as well as Bright Era, warmly welcome you all." She said enthusiastically.
Jones looked at Liu Yifei. She was very embarrassed to be called an aunt. She had just made things difficult for the girl twice in a row. As an elder, this really made her a little embarrassed.
She glanced at Liu Yifei's empty milk cup, stood up, took the cup over, picked up the glass jug, filled the empty cup, and placed it in front of Liu Yifei, saying: "This is milk from the cows I raise at home. It is very fresh and pure.
Drink more."
"Thank you, auntie." Liu Yifei thanked her sweetly.
Grande saw all this and felt bitter in her heart when she saw Jones's instant change in attitude towards Sissi.
She really wants to have it, but she can't do it, which is very annoying.
Liu Yifei caught Ai Rande's emotions. Now that the business talk is over, it's time to think about how to help Ai Rande.
This is her best friend in the United States. If she can help solve Alander's troubles, she will be happy to do so.
"Sissi, it's still early, can you tell us about the situation of the Brilliant Era, so that we can make preparations before we may visit." Old Jack invited Liu Yifei to the living room to chat.
"Okay, I'm very happy." Liu Yifei got up and went to the living room with the family with the intention of helping Ellen solve her troubles.
