I really don't want to be the top streamer anymore

Chapter 49 Cooperation with Penguin Video

"This is too much of a bully!"

As soon as he followed Xu Kong out of Kiwi's headquarters, Guo Zihao couldn't help but swear.

Although Xu Kong was also very angry, he knew that this was a very normal phenomenon in the entertainment industry.

After all, to the outside world, Xu Kong is the so-called top star in the domestic entertainment industry, but to one of the largest video platforms in the country like Kiwi, let alone him as a star, even Fengqing Entertainment is just begging for food on its knees.

The budget for the entire drama "Want to See You" was probably dug out online long before.

But the other party's offer of 1.5 million per episode was obviously accurately calculated.

The 26-episode drama received nearly 40 million yuan in copyright fees, and I still made 10 million yuan.

Xu Kong guessed that it was most likely the information from Yu Yaqing.

He knew that Yu Yaqing meant well and felt that it would be a huge blow if he couldn't even sell the copyright for the first drama he directed.

So I asked Kiwi to help me buy the copyright at a similar price in advance.

I guess in the eyes of Kiwi and Qin Xian, this was already a very good charity to him, and Xu Kong should be grateful.

But Xu Kong knew that he could never agree to such copyright fees.

Otherwise, why would he have worked so hard for these two months just for the copyright fee of more than 10 million?

Wouldn't it be possible to earn more by just taking on more advertisements and endorsements?
"Then what do we do now?"

Guo Zihao thought that Xu Kong looked so handsome when he turned around and left.

But after calming down, I couldn't help but feel worried.

"What else can we do? Since Kiwi doesn't want such overwhelming wealth, let's go to Penguin Video."

Xu Kong was not too affected and replied calmly.

……

"Is the person gone?"

Just as Xu Kong and Guo Zihao left the Kiwi Fruit Company headquarters, in an office, Qin Xian casually looked up and glanced at Huang Qifeng, the team leader of his department.

The so-called being too busy with meetings and not having time are just excuses.

It was obvious that Qin Xian was just too lazy to meet Xu Kong.

"Ah."

After Qin Xian got an accurate answer, he continued:
"Forty million, just consider it as a favor to Feng Qing."

"But I will tell Yu Yaqing that this is the first and last time."

"He's just a popular celebrity who has just become popular. Is he worthy of her attention?"

After listening to Qin Xian's mumbling for a while, Huang Qifeng finally spoke:
"The person left, but the contract was not signed."

"That Xu Kong said that the drama is not for sale anymore."

Hearing this, Qin Xian, who had been focusing on the computer documents, raised his head unexpectedly.

"Why, that guy is still not satisfied with the copyright fee we gave him?"

Huang Qifeng nodded.

"Judging from his reaction, it seems so."

Qin Xian couldn't help laughing.

"That's great, it also saves money for our company."

"He left on his own, it's not our fault."

"Didn't you make the deal?"

Hearing Yu Yaqing's voice on the phone, Xu Kong said "hmm" lightly.

Then he continued: "Don't worry, the show will be broadcast normally."

He was already on his way back to Hangzhou, planning to go directly to Penguin Video tomorrow.

Yu Yaqing didn't say much, even though Qin Xian had already told her just now that Xu Kong looked down on the copyright fees they gave.

"If you have any difficulties, tell me in time."

"I'll try to help you solve it."

Seeing Xu Kong hang up the phone, Guo Zihao spoke:
"Should we agree to it?"

"Actually, 1.5 million per episode is pretty good."

"You might not be able to get such a price from Penguin."

Xu Kong glared at the other person.

"If you want to be a beggar on your knees, go by yourself and don't take me with you."

Guo Zihao didn't know what Xu Kong meant by this, and muttered in a depressed voice: "How come I have to beg for food on my knees?"

……

"Hello, Mr. Guo"

The next day, Xu Kong still arrived at the Penguin Video headquarters early in the morning.

This time, I was able to meet the person in charge of Penguin Pictures' copyright smoothly. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and looked very gentle.

"I once thought about it."

"You should know the purpose of my visit, right?"

Xu Kong didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.

Zeng Xi nodded.

"Can I watch this new drama you're filming first?"

Guo Zihao took out the mobile hard drive he had prepared long ago from his bag at the right time.

Zeng Xi watched it very seriously. What surprised him was that he originally thought that Xu Kong was the absolute protagonist.

But in the first three episodes, Xu Kong appeared only a few times.

The story unfolds almost entirely from the perspective of the heroine Huang Zixuan, played by Song Youyou.

"This drama doesn't seem to be a pure urban romance drama?"

After watching the previous three episodes, Zeng Xi organized his words and then spoke:
"Mr. Xu, you may not like what I say."

"From the first three episodes alone, there aren't really any major issues. The dialogues, the actors' performances, and the audio-visual arrangements are all pretty good."

"It's really amazing for a new director to be able to achieve this."

First, I gave a lot of compliments, and then the other party started to say "but".

"But... the suspense elements of this drama are a bit too contrived, and the pace is too slow. In the current domestic film and television drama market, audiences will not buy into such a slow-paced drama."

"You have a lot of fans, but your personal story is a little lacking."

Xu Kong had already heard it by now.

In fact, he had anticipated such a situation.

The plot of the first few episodes of "Want to See You" is indeed a bit too bland. It really starts to become exciting after the heroine travels through time for the first time at the end of the fourth episode.

But the previous plots are almost all indispensable foreshadowing and cannot be deleted.

There is nothing that can be done about it. There is nothing wrong with what Zeng Xi said. This drama "Want to See You" is indeed a slow-paced drama.

Another thing is that he had almost no role in the first few episodes. As a new actor, his acting skills were considered risky by the other party.

"But even so, I can still see some potential in this show."

"So we at Penguin Video are willing to purchase the copyright for two million per episode."

Guo Zihao was quite surprised to hear that the other party's offer was higher than the previous one from Kiwi Fruit.

He even subconsciously wanted to agree on behalf of Xu Kong.

Looking at his agent who was winking at him frantically, Xu Kong still didn't react much.

"Li Zeng, if possible, I actually hope that my drama will cooperate with your platform in a revenue-sharing model."

Now it was Zeng Xi's turn to be surprised.

"Profit-sharing model?"

Their Penguin, as well as domestic video platforms like Kiwi, all have relatively detailed profit-sharing models.

But that model is aimed at some smaller online dramas and companies.

The more formal film and television companies still use the traditional model of selling copyrights.

After all, business is all about getting the money and being safe. No one knows whether their drama will be accepted by the market and whether it will become a hit.

If the copyright is sold in advance, the risk will be borne by the platform.

If it really doesn't work out and we can't agree on copyright fees, we can just sign a bet agreement or something.

Although the investment is only 30 million, it is not a big-budget drama, but with Xu Kong and Song Youyou as the leading actors, it will never fall into the profit-sharing model.

The young man Xu Kong is not very satisfied with the copyright fees they gave him!

"In that case, I have no reason to refuse."

"Your drama will be counted as an A-level drama, the highest level on our platform. Just follow the contract."

Zeng Xi agreed without any hesitation.

Because of the profit-sharing model, their platform is almost certain to make a profit.

"Is there an S-rank?"

Xu Kong actually had some understanding of the profit-sharing models of these video platforms, which were basically calculated based on the effective time users spent watching TV series.

"Okay, since you asked, it's okay for us to give you special treatment that exceeds that of A-level dramas in terms of unit price."

Ever since Xu Kong planned to cooperate in the platform profit-sharing model, Zeng Xi suddenly became much more talkative.

Hearing this answer, Xu Kong also smiled.

This move of his was the right one.

……

(End of this chapter)