The richest person in Chinese entertainment

Chapter 205: The inexplicable Warner, an unexpected encounter in the bathroom

At one o'clock in the afternoon, after Zhang Chen had finished his meal, the people from Warner arrived as scheduled.

In the spacious reception room, the 32-person team Zhang Chen brought sat down beside him one by one.

On the other side of the table from Zhang Chen, Kevin from Warner only brought Lorenzo and three followers.

Judging from the momentum, Zhang Chen's side completely overwhelmed Warner Bros., which was at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers.

However, victory in a negotiation does not depend on who has more people. It mainly depends on how much inside information you have about the other party and the resources you have available.

“Leon, we are all old acquaintances, there is no need to make such a big scene, right?”

Kevin looked at the group of people around Zhang Chen and felt like a lamb in a wolf's den. He felt that if he didn't speak properly today, he might not be able to leave the door today.

He watched the news this morning. In just one night, a male celebrity who was quite influential in China was completely exposed by Zhang Chen's team.

It is said that the cause was simply that the male star slapped Zhang Chen's employee.

He didn't even dare to think, if it was in the United States, would those burly guys who rushed up at that time just beat the fat guy to death.

Who knows if the group of "lawyers" around Zhang Chen are the kind of muscular men who look like they have muscular bodies when they take off their suits. Didn't the guests yesterday also suddenly transform?

So now he is really a coward.

"Kevin, you are so busy. I have been waiting for you for half a year, and you finally had time to meet me. If I don't contact you again, will you regard my dividends as having belonged to Warner?"

Zhang Chen crossed his legs and drank tea slowly from the cup.

In Kevin's eyes, this image was somewhat similar to some unspeakable people in their country.

When he looked at Zhang Chen's collar, his eyes suddenly narrowed and his heart rose to his throat.

"Oh, dear Leon, we dare not embezzle your money. We have been waiting for the account to be settled. It is our fault that it has been delayed until now."

Kevin wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was a little scared that if he didn't give Zhang Chen a satisfactory answer today, he might not be able to leave the door.

We are at Zhang Chen’s house now. The garden that I saw when I passed by just now is quite big.

"Oh, so you came here today to give me money?"

"Uh yeah, yeah yeah!"

After hearing what Zhang Chen said, Kevin nodded in agreement hurriedly. As for the leader's request to ask for more benefits before coming, he told him to go to hell.

He now wanted to tell Zhang Chen all his bottom lines so that he could walk out of this door safely today.

"Show me the accounts."

Zhang Chen looked at Kevin in confusion, as he seemed a little panicked, but since Kevin was so tactful, he didn't have to waste any more words.

After listening to Zhang Chen's words, Kevin took out a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Zhang Chen with both hands without even looking at them.

Zhang Chen picked up the document and began to look through it.

The most important thing, of course, is the box office revenue of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", which totaled $10.33 billion.

Hollywood's profit-sharing model is different from that of China.

They use a step-down approach:

In the first week, the film company usually takes 70%-80% of the total box office, and the highest does not exceed 85%. However, Disney's films can take 80%-90%, or even 95% in the first week. At this time, the theater mainly relies on selling soda and snacks to make money.

In the second week, the film company's share will usually drop to 60%-70%, and Disney can get 70%-80%.
In the third week, the rate usually drops to 45%-60%, but Disney will guarantee a rate of more than 65%.
After the fourth week, it usually drops to 25%-45%, and then the film companies basically take no less than 25%. Disney usually does not drop below 40% in the first four weeks, and will only drop this ratio in the fifth week or later.

So by this calculation, Hollywood's box office revenue in North America is extremely considerable.

Based on the North American box office of $3.5 million, $1 million was earned in the first week. After deducting some taxes, the film earned about $7000 million in the first week and about $1 million in the remaining weeks, for a total of $1.7 million.

In other markets, it is generally in accordance with international practice, with producers taking 35%, distributors taking 17%, and exhibitors taking 48%.
The global box office data excluding North America was 6.83 million US dollars, 35% of which went to the producers, who received about 2.39 million US dollars.

The global box office share totaled $4.09 million.

If other expenses are not taken into account, according to Zhang Chen's 40% share, the initial investment of US$6000 million can generate a return of approximately US$1.6 million.

However, this is gross profit, and we also need to look at other expenses besides production costs, which is where Warner can easily manipulate.

The first was loans, with an annual interest rate of 3 percentage points, and the second was publicity and promotion, which cost a total of 3000 million US dollars, which was much more reliable than the 1 million US dollars that Zhang Chen had in mind.

By this calculation, the shareable profit is approximately 3.6 million yuan, and Zhang Chen can get 1.44 million yuan.

"With a box office of over 10 billion, this is all I can get?"

After Zhang Chen read the data, he suddenly felt that he couldn't make much money by making a Hollywood blockbuster.

"Hehe, Leon, you also know how difficult it is for us producers, right?"

Kevin nodded angrily. He couldn't say that a lot of the profits came from the sales of DVDs and peripherals. This clause was not given to Zhang Chen when the contract was signed.

In other words, the biggest share of this movie actually belongs to Warner.

"Okay, let's settle the bill today?"

After thinking about it, Zhang Chen realized that Hollywood's profits mainly come from discs and peripherals.

However, when CGT is established, the revenue from the discs will quietly become his, and as for the revenue from peripheral products, every time Warner sells one, Warner can make money, and Zhang Chen can also make money.

Just from the sales of peripheral products, the two films have already earned Warner and Morning Light about $2 million each, which is a huge profit that does not need to be shared with other partners.

"Leon, large cross-border transfers are not that fast."

"Then Mr. Kevin, why don't you stay for dinner? I'll take you back after the bill is settled?"

Zhang Chen was in a good mood. At least Warner didn't fool him and gave him the money he deserved.

Moreover, if the money has not arrived yet, you can't just sit there and wait. Inviting the guest to have a simple meal is the hospitality that the host should show.

"No, that's not necessary. After we sign the contract for the next movie, I have to rush back to the United States. Time is tight. Please forgive me."

When Kevin heard that Zhang Chen wanted to keep him for afternoon tea, his face turned pale and he waved his hands hurriedly to indicate that he had a lot of things to do later.

He was very worried that the banquet would not be a good one.

“What about the investment share?”

"46%, this is the highest authorization my company has given me."

"Disc."

"Leon, this is really not okay."

Kevin originally wanted to agree to all of Zhang Chen's requests, but when it came to this, he really had no right to make this decision.

"Well, I hope that what happens next won't cause you any trouble."

Zhang Chen waved his hand, skipped the topic, and asked the lawyers to go forward and check the contract.

If Warner doesn't give it to him, he will take it himself. He has already given him a chance. It's Warner that doesn't give him any face, so there is no need for him to hide it anymore.

Previously, he was worried that digital films would affect the box office data, so he had been reluctant to put the movie online for public screening. Now that the first movie has been completely taken off the screen and the disc rental period has arrived, it is time for him to create this income for himself.

Kevin nervously gave the group of "lawyers" in black suits the contract with the most favorable terms in his briefcase, and then waited anxiously.

The big pendulum clock in the living room kept striking Kevin's heart as time passed. When the clock struck 2 o'clock, Kevin was startled and shuddered.

Zhang Chen's lawyers also finished reviewing the contract at this time.

"Okay, no problem, happy cooperation." Zhang Chen also roughly scanned the contract, and after finding no problem, he signed and stamped it.

The production of the third film has officially started.

It was just that Kevin's performance today left him a little confused.

But it doesn't matter. As long as the money is in place, everything will be fine.

"Let's have dinner together?" Zhang Chen invited again.

"I, I'll make a phone call first."

After Kevin collected the contract, he took out his cell phone and made an application to Zhang Chen.

"Okay then, let's have a good chat while we wait for the payment."

Zhang Chen nodded. Reporting work was a matter of course. Zhang Chen would not force Kevin to stop reporting his work progress.

After Kevin left the living room, he took out his cell phone tremblingly, facing the endless garden of Zhang's house. While waiting for the call to be connected, he saw a pool of blood on the soil not far away with his wandering eyes.
boom!
His pupils suddenly shrank and he forced himself to run on his weak legs to a place far enough away from the garden. He found a place he thought was relatively safe and made a phone call.

The chef of Zhang's house, who was watching him run away, was holding an old hen that had just been bled, and looked at the foreigner in confusion.

"Are foreigners so disgusted by killing?" He scratched his head, feeling that he had frightened the guest a little.

But the boss ordered the hen to be killed, saying that Miss Liu Yifei was a little frightened yesterday and felt a little weak, so she needed old hen soup to replenish her body.

The boss failed to kill the chicken himself, so he asked him to deal with the follow-up.

Today is definitely the most thrilling day in Kevin's life.

God knows what kind of mood he was in when he accompanied Zhang Chen for afternoon tea.

This meal was also the most torturous afternoon tea he had ever had. He hoped very much that the company's money could be transferred to Zhang Chen's company account as soon as possible so that he could escape from this place that terrified him so much.

Fortunately, around 5 pm, the company finally transferred a huge sum of money to Zhang Chen’s company account through companies in other parts of the world.

As for the North American headquarters, it was not even daybreak yet and he didn't want to wait until dark.

Too dangerous!

"Kevin, come and visit often when you have time."

"Oh, of course."

Zhang Chen looked at Kevin's running back and asked Xue Yining beside him curiously, "What happened to him today?"

He always felt that Kevin was abnormal today, very abnormal.

Perhaps weird is a more appropriate description.

He didn't look like a seasoned business elite at all. During the normal negotiation, he hurriedly revealed his bottom line before he even said a word.

"Boss, when you killed the chicken this morning, you accidentally spilled blood on your clothes. Here."

Xue Yining pointed to a small area under Zhang Chen's collar, where there was an obvious bloodstain, which was bright red and very eye-catching.

"Why didn't you remind me? It would be embarrassing for guests to see me."

Zhang Chen pulled up his collar and saw the bloodstain. He just met the guests wearing blood-stained clothes, which was really inappropriate.

"I wanted to remind you, but seeing Kevin's reaction, I thought it would be beneficial to today's negotiations, so I decided to hide it from you without authorization. Please forgive me."

Xue Yining bowed slightly and apologized.

As an assistant, it was her dereliction of duty not to fulfill her due responsibilities.

Maintaining the boss's image among outsiders is also the assistant's job.

What happened today had its reasons, but it was wrong and she knew it clearly.

Zhang Chen was silent for a moment after hearing Xue Yining's words: "Remember to remind me next time. Your salary for this month is gone."

"it is good."

"In addition, today's negotiation was successful, and this year's bonus will be doubled."

"Thank you, boss."

Xue Yining accepted Zhang Chen's punishment and reward with a smile.

This incident just passed.

"I'm going to change my clothes. Come find me when Du Zhining arrives."

It's okay to scare outsiders, but there's no need to scare your own people.

He also had to go see how the chicken soup was cooking.

"Huh, I still need to take a bath to feel comfortable in the winter."

Originally, he wanted to go to the kitchen, but when he thought about the dirty clothes he was still wearing, Zhang Chen, who had obsessive-compulsive disorder, turned a corner and went to the newly built large bathhouse in the house.

After taking off his clothes in the changing room, Zhang Chen walked into the inner room naked, walked on the stone paths of different shapes to the bathing pool, and after finding a satisfactory position, Zhang Chen leaned his back against the bathing pool, closed his eyes and rested comfortably.

He also didn't expect that the aunt at home would be so considerate.

Without even reminding him, the hot water was already prepared so he could come in and take a bath right away.

Just when he was wondering whether he should give the aunts a raise.

The bathroom door opened.

Zhang Chen opened his eyes and looked towards the door, and all he saw was a bright white area.

"what!!!!"

Liu Yifei didn't expect that Zhang Chen would be taking a bath in the bathroom.

This should be what she asked the aunts to prepare.

She broke out in a sweat again this afternoon. While Zhang Chen was talking about work, she thought of taking a comfortable bath. After she felt refreshed, she would go and complete the task that she had not completed in the morning.

She felt that the reason Zhang Chen pushed her away in the morning was because she sweated too much last night.

The original plan was fine, but no one told her that so many steps would be omitted? !

Can we just wash together and smell the fragrance?
Isn't this skipping too many steps?
"How will you be here?"

"How will you be here?"

The two men covered their vital parts at the same time and asked each other soul-searching questions.

"I'm going to take a shower."

Again in unison.

"How about... do it together?" This was someone's personal suggestion.

　Guess who said the last sentence?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)