China Entertainment started from Nortel 96

Negotiations are not always smooth sailing.

After the negotiation was over, after the two heads of Universal Pictures left, Qi Wei forced a smile and thanked Zheng Donghan:

"Thank you, Mr. Zheng, for your cooperation."

"I'm just telling the truth." Zheng Donghan shook his head, his expression a little speechless, and couldn't help but ask: "Sony has really contacted you? Are you willing to increase the price to 1500 million meters?"

"How should I put it?" Qi Wei thought for a while and replied truthfully: "As you know, Sony has always been very active. I disclosed Universal's quotation to them, and they said they could keep up with this price. As for 1500 million meters, this That’s the price in my heart.”

"What you mean is that Sony didn't quote the price to $1500 million."

Seeing Qi Wei nodded, Zheng Donghan couldn't help but smile, and then said: "They are all Hollywood companies, and it is easy to find out this kind of thing. If you do this, they will be very unhappy, and maybe they will not be willing to invest." .”

If you don't want to invest, just don't invest. Anyway, we have Sony as a backup.

Qi Wei didn't care, and asked without any fluctuation on his face: "Mr. Zheng, if I make them unhappy, will you stand by me?"

Zheng Donghan was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.

Qi Wei looked at Zhang Weiping and Lao Mouzi and asked, "Mr. Zhang and Director Zhang, do you still remember when we were in Japan and the person in charge of Sony negotiated with us?"

Zhang Weiping nodded and replied: "Yes, I still remember."

"Just remember." Qi Wei looked back at Zheng Donghan and continued: "The cooperation between us is not a unilateral charity. It is a cooperation that benefits both parties. It is beneficial to both parties. If Mr. Zheng was like them back then, , treat us like beggars with arrogance, then I would not cooperate with you in the first place.

The basis of cooperation lies in the respect of both parties. At least during the negotiations with Sony, I felt their respect for me. "

These words made Zheng Donghan clearly feel that Qi Wei's position was like Sony's adaptation, and his expression suddenly changed.

He quickly said: "It's not what you think. Please listen to my explanation."

"There's nothing to explain." Qi Wei shook his head and interrupted directly, looked at Zheng Donghan and continued: "Mr. Zheng, it's not just me, but also you. I don't feel how much they respect you. You are so conscientious and dedicated." Over the years, you have both merit and hard work. I feel unworthy of them treating you like this."

"Who calls me an old minister of the former dynasty?" Zheng Donghan said with a wry smile.

Zheng Donghan was originally the president of PolyGram Asia. After PolyGram was acquired by Universal Music, he became the head of Universal Music Asia.

The rich second-generation boss of Universal Music originally acquired PolyGram with the purpose of enlarging the company and increasing its market value so that he could have more leverage and take the initiative in the subsequent merger negotiations with France's Vivendi. big benefits.

At that time, the company wanted to focus on stability.

Before Universal Music acquired PolyGram, it paid little attention to the Asian market and invested relatively limited resources. Its influence in Asia was far less than that of PolyGram.

But after acquiring PolyGram, Universal Music suddenly became the most influential record company in Asia, but this influence was inherited more from PolyGram.

Since we want to maintain stability and maintain the stability of the Asian market, Zheng Donghan cannot be replaced.

We can only continue to let Zheng Donghan become the head of Universal Music Asia.

But this is only temporary.

The world is changing very fast. In just over a year, many things have already changed.

Universal has also undergone dramatic changes.

The rich second-generation boss of Universal Company merged Universal and Vivendi as he wished, but the merger did not achieve the results he wanted.

The reason is very simple, because the prosperity of the European and American record industry in the past few years has allowed major record companies to expand wildly and without restraint. However, with the recession of the record industry, various degrees of deficit have appeared within each major record company, even making some Some record companies are on the verge of bankruptcy.

In this case, signing up for a group to keep warm is a way to survive, just like Universal Music’s acquisition of PolyGram.

But the problem is that in order to acquire PolyGram as soon as possible, the rich second-generation boss of Universal Company did not choose to burst the bubble of PolyGram, and even purchased it at a premium.

This makes Universal Music, which acquired PolyGram, even more frothy.

In other words, Universal Music's actual value is far less than its market value.

Global’s market capitalization is inflated. This rich second-generation boss is not completely unaware of this.

But he is not on this point, because as long as it can merge with France's Vivendi at its current market value, it can transfer this problem to others.

But he overlooked one thing. France's Vivendi is also a company with a big bubble. It is actively seeking mergers and cooperation with Universal, and also wants to transfer this problem.

The result is that two companies with big bubbles merged into one company with an even bigger bubble. If you want to cheat others, you end up cheating yourself.

In fact, they have already been targeted by the wolves of Wall Street. As soon as Universal and Vivendi merge, the wolves of Wall Street will eat them up.

This is also true. After the merger, Vivendi Universal was immediately attacked, and its market value suddenly fell to the bottom. The rich second-generation boss of Universal suffered heavy losses and his net worth shrank significantly.

Of course, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Universal still has many good assets and the company can still operate normally.

Once the bubble has burst, there is no need to maintain stability, and there will inevitably be a big cleanup inside.

As an old man from PolyGram, it is no surprise that Zheng Donghan was also included in the purge.

In fact, Zheng Donghan can also feel that Universal's support for him this year has obviously been insufficient.

I have less and less say in the company. Even if Universal Pictures wants to invest in "Heroes", it is more about the film project itself, not because of the importance I attach to Qi Wei.

Qi Wei asked: "Mr. Zheng, have you thought about your future?"

"Huh? What do you mean? Do you want me to leave Universal Records?"

Zheng Donghan remembered that Qi Wei had contact with Sony and asked: "Is it possible that Sony is also interested in me and wants to poach me through you?"

Qi Wei smiled and replied: "With Mr. Zheng's connections and status in the industry, Sony will definitely be happy to switch to Sony, and naturally welcome it, but I don't particularly want to see Mr. Zheng switch to Sony."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Zheng Donghan was a little confused.

"Mr. Zheng, when I didn't set up my own record company, many record companies approached me and offered generous offers that people couldn't refuse. The reason why I didn't want to refuse was because I didn't want to be dependent on others.

Just like you now, you have worked conscientiously for most of your life. Even if you are still very capable, as long as others think you are not in the same camp, you will still be at risk of being kicked out. The reality is so cruel, which is why I don't want to rely on others.

If you rely on someone else once, I’m sure you don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

"What do you mean?" Zheng Donghan has already guessed Qi Wei's purpose.

"Yes, just as you think, with your abilities you can definitely go it alone."

Now, Qi Wei's record company has become completely formal and has complete distribution channels in the mainland. However, it only needs to find partners for distribution in Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas.

And Zheng Donghan has been in the industry for so many years. With the connections he has accumulated, he can handle the distribution channels in Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas by himself, and he can completely ignore major international record companies like Universal and Sony.

What Qi Wei needs is exactly what Zheng Donghan has. If Qi Wei wants his record company to quickly become the best record company in the country, poaching the giant Buddha Zheng Donghan into his company is undoubtedly the best way.

But with Zheng Donghan's status in the world, it would be unrealistic to recruit him into the company. He had no reason to choose the big one over the small one.

There can only be another way of cooperation.

Help him set up his record company and then become a shareholder himself.

Qi Wei continued: "The news I heard is that Vivendi Universal is not optimistic about the record industry and intends to separate the record business, which means they have given up the record business. This means that in the next few years, Even if you are not abandoned by Universal, Universal will not provide you with any support, so why bother to support it?”

At this time, major international record companies such as Warner and Sony have set their sights on the Chinese market and are increasing investment.

If you don’t work hard despite everyone’s efforts, Universal Music will definitely catch up from behind.

In fact, the situation in later generations is similar. Zheng Donghan did not make any achievements during his years at Universal.

"Let me think about it." Resigning to start his own company is a big deal, and Zheng Donghan doesn't dare to take it lightly.

But it can be seen that he does have thoughts on this.

"You really need to think carefully about such a big thing. Universal won't touch you in the short term. You still have plenty of time to think about it."

"What about you, would you consider allowing "Hero" to receive investment from Universal?" Zheng Donghan asked with a pun.

"There is no difference between these Hollywood movie companies. I still say the same thing, the one with the highest price gets it."

"There is a high probability that Universal will not increase its offer."

"Then if Sony is willing to increase its offer, then we will most likely cooperate with Sony."

"Then cooperation between us." Zheng Donghan was a little anxious.

"I'm just talking about movies."

But Qi Wei added: "Universal doesn't value me as much as you do. Maybe the cooperation contract with Universal will end when it expires. Of course, we have such a pleasant cooperation, I still want to continue to cooperate with you, if you are willing to come out If you go it alone, I will fully support you, not only in terms of cooperation, but also in terms of financial support.”

These words made Zheng Donghan think.

After thinking for a while, Zheng Donghan nodded and replied: "I will seriously consider it and give you an answer as soon as possible."

"no problem."

Qi Wei replied confidently that he was not worried at all, because in later generations, after Zheng Donghan left Universal, he established his own record company and even acquired EMI's domestic record business.

Just wait for his reply.

After Zheng Donghan left, only Qi Wei and Er Zhang were left in the office.

Zhang Weiping became a little worried and asked, "Isn't it too risky for you to ask Universal people to wait for the results of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" after it is released?"

Although Zhang Weiping did not participate in the internal test screening of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Lao Mouzi did, and Lao Mouzi was not optimistic about the prospects of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" being released in China.

"Maybe this movie will be very popular after it is released, and maybe it will turn around." Qi Wei replied with a smile.

"Do you believe what you say?" Zhang Weiping rolled his eyes at Qi Wei and said angrily: "Don't think that I know what you and Mr. Han are planning. Since you want to reform the market, this movie will not be produced in China. Possibly good results.”

"I'm talking about North America, the situation in Europe."

Qi Wei looked at Lao Mouzi and asked: "Director Zhang, what do you think of the prospects of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" being released in Europe and the United States?"

Hearing this question, Lao Mouzi couldn't help but frowned.

After attending an internal preview screening of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", he always felt that the movie was very good. It was obviously a costumed martial arts movie, but the style of the movie was different.

Hmm. Very Western style.

But will European and American audiences really like this kind of film that is neither Chinese nor Western?

He glanced at Zhang Weiping, thought for a moment and replied: "I'm not sure either."

Qi Wei said: "You two should know very well how successful Director Li Yu was in Hollywood. His film "Sense and Sensibility" even won him the Golden Globe Award for Best Director. It can be said that he is the most successful director in Hollywood." A Chinese director who understands European and American audiences

To tell you the truth, I asked some European and American audiences to watch "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" before. They all liked the movie and said that if the movie was released in their countries, they would be willing to go to the cinema to watch it. So I think this movie The movie will be very popular when released in Europe and America.”

"I heard from Li Eucalyptus that this film will participate in next year's Oscars. Is this true?"

Qi Wei nodded and replied: "Well, it does happen. Maybe I can win the general."

When he heard that he could win the prize, Lao Mouzi's expression changed obviously.

It was Zhang Weiping who said: "There is still a possibility that the movie may not be released. I don't want to take this risk. I think it's best to get the funds first."

"Does our drama still lack investment?" Qi Wei Mingzhi asked.

Qi Wei raised 5000 million in investment for "Hero", Hong Kong Star Entertainment's boss Xiang invested 3000 million, and Lin Jianyue asked Media Asia Film Company to invest 1000 million for Qi Wei's sake.

Qi Wei alone attracted 9000 million yuan in investment.

Zhang Weiping also secured his share of 5000 million yuan, and together with other investments, "Hero" has now raised more than 1.6 million yuan.

Although it is still nearly 2.5 million short of the planned 9000 million, the current funds are enough to start shooting the movie for several months.

Today is different from the past. There are more and more bosses in China who are interested in "Hero". Even without Hollywood funds, raising nearly 9000 million in funds is not a big problem.

"As you know, there is still a big gap in "Hero"." Zhang Weiping reminded.

"I will have a good negotiation with Sony. If we can't reach an agreement, I will take care of the funding gap."

Qi Wei looked at Lao Mouzi and said, "Don't worry, it will definitely not affect your shooting plan."

"I heard that you plan to invest in the new film "A Secret Service" prepared by Jiahe for Cheng Long. Is this true?" Zhang Weiping asked.

"This is indeed the case. My investment is also to make up for the funding gap of his drama."

The gap is 100 million!

Now Zhang Weiping had no doubts.

"I plan to start shooting "Hero" in September. Can you join the cast in September? You also said that it will not affect my shooting plan."

"There is no way I want to film "Swordsman". This is what you promised me. You can't blame me for this."

Seeing the smile on Qi Wei's face, everyone laughed. (End of chapter)