In the entertainment industry, everyone has been reborn, but who will be their servant?

Chapter 108 I'll Listen to the Boss

Qin Xuan's words made them quite embarrassed; Sao blushed, feeling that she had underestimated herself.

It's actually quite normal. Any young person would feel nervous when meeting an industry leader and would unconsciously belittle themselves, making it difficult to treat others as equals.

Don't be fooled by their fierce online criticism and seemingly disregard for everyone. When they actually meet a powerful figure, their mindset is completely different.

Qin Xuan is different. First, he is a reincarnated person, and second, he has met many important figures.

After all, the leaders were not ordinary people, so they had already calmed down.

"President Xuan, don't put it so harshly. We just felt we should be polite, after all, President Han is someone we look up to," Li Miao said to the others.

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Politeness is fine, but don't idolize the other party. We're here to discuss cooperation, on an equal footing, not to beg for charity from China Film Group. Keep a level head, understand?" Qin Xuan emphasized the last word.

"Yes!" They nodded emphatically.

Encouraged by this, they couldn't help but adjust their mindset and cheer themselves on.

As they ascended the high steps, a secretary inquired about their identities and then led them into an office. The office was spacious and housed only two people: Zuo Shandiao and Fatty Yu.

The two men were lounging in leather armchairs, seemingly engaged in conversation. The moment the door opened, they turned and looked at them.

"Hello, Mr. Han and Mr. Yu!" Qin Xuan nodded and greeted them.

Shen Ao and his team just said they were adjusting their mindset and were encouraged, but when they saw Zuo Shandiao, they couldn't help but feel uneasy, their faces flushed, and they nervously clenched their fists.

They still lack worldly experience. It's right for Qin Xuan to broaden their horizons and dispel the mystique surrounding these important figures.

We can't just shout slogans about equality; we have to start from practice.

"You're here, no need to be polite, come and sit down, bring these chairs over too." Zuo Shandiao gestured to the sofa area and offered his chair.

Since there were too many people and the sofa area was not enough, everyone had to sit on chairs.

Qin Xuan gestured for them to bring over a few chairs. Shen Ao and his team were very enthusiastic, each bringing one chair, and they brought over five armchairs, which were placed next to the sofa area.

"I called you before to invite President Xuan to dinner for a chat, but I haven't had the chance yet," Fatty Yu said with a smile, sitting on the double sofa.

Although Fatty Yu had also participated in the blacklisting of Qin Xuan, the damage was negligible, and they had no prior dealings. However, he had noticed Qin Xuan's strong abilities and wanted to win him over.

After all, no one would turn down money or talented creators.

Of course, this person never mentors anyone; instead, he looks for those who are already successful and likes to create ready-made collaborations. That's why he's close to the Hong Kong entertainment circle—there are many directors there, so he can simply pick up the pieces.

This is also why few new directors collaborate with Bona Film Group; it's too biased towards the Hong Kong film industry.

"I'm just busy, I really don't have time. There will be other opportunities." Qin Xuan sat opposite him, and since he didn't want to offend someone who was smiling, there was no need to bring up the previous matter again.

Zuo Shandiao sat next to Fatty Yu, wearing black-rimmed glasses, with his legs crossed, leaning back on the sofa, exuding a calm and composed demeanor as he sized up the person opposite him.

He then said, "The reason I invited you here is to discuss a collaboration on 'Nanjing Photo Studio.' China Film Group and Bona Film Group can both invest in it."

"Sure!" Qin Xuan readily agreed.

Shen Ao and Wen Muye were also very excited. With these two big companies, it would be more convenient for them to film, and the chances of a box office hit would be greater.

Zuo Shandiao asked, "How much investment have you secured so far?"

"Wanda invested 30 million, and Jiangnan also mentioned investing some, but we haven't discussed it yet," Qin Xuan said truthfully.

Zuo Shandiao asked again, "What about the budget?"

“Eighty million!” Qin Xuan said.

"So tall?" Fatty Yu stared wide-eyed.

"For major historical themes, the costumes, props, and sets need to be of a higher standard to ensure realism." Qin Xuan didn't explain too much; if you think it's too high, you don't have to vote.

Anyway, it's not like his movie isn't lacking investors.

"We can provide all of these for you, and we can also help you design and build scenes, including photography equipment, as well as professional production staff behind the scenes," Zuo Shandiao said calmly.

In other words, in addition to providing money, support can also be given for the set, photography, and behind-the-scenes personnel.

However, these words made Shen Ao, Zhang Linke, Wen Muye and others feel uneasy.

"Thank you for your support, Mr. Han. However, apart from the set construction and photography equipment you mentioned, I still prefer to use my own team. I won't trouble your team." Qin Xuan could agree to everything else, but he couldn't agree to change the behind-the-scenes team.

That would be tantamount to sidelining him.

"Do you have a team? I mean a professional production team for a big-budget movie like this, worth 80 million." Zuo Shandiao asked with a hint of doubt.

Shen Ao and his team realized that Zuo Shandiao was going to replace them with the behind-the-scenes team from China Film Group.

This made them both sad and disheartened!
"Yes!" Qin Xuan pointed to Shen Ao and the others, "They are them!"

"Them?" Zuo Shandiao scrutinized the young faces of those in their early twenties.

Under the scrutiny of Zuo Shandiao, Shen Ao and the others felt somewhat at a loss, and their mood turned tense, daring not to harbor the slightest resentment.

There's nothing else to it, he just has such a strong presence. After being a CEO for so many years, how could he not have a strong presence?

"Yes, it's them!" Qin Xuan's tone was certain. "You need to understand that making a big-budget movie is a completely different concept from the low-budget movies you made before. It's an industrialized model. Industrialization is like building a skyscraper. Before, you were at most making a work of art by hand."

Processes and standardization are fundamentally different.

Zuo Shandiao explained the pros and cons to him.

"Mr. Han is right. The division of labor in industrial production is very clear. Each person has a specific job. The pursuit is audiovisual quality. It's not that you can realize such a scene just because you have an idea. You need professionals to do it," Fatty Yu said.

They were right, but Qin Xuan shook his head and said, "I think they can!"

He certainly knew that producing a low-budget film was different from producing a big-budget film worth 80 million, just like the difference between Hollywood and a small-scale production, but that didn't mean they were incapable.

These words made Shen Ao, Wen Muye, Wang Chaowen and others turn to look at Xuan Zong. Their gratitude and the feeling of "a man would die for a friend" welled up in their hearts.

It turns out that all the mainstream film and television companies thought they couldn't do it, but Boss Xuan thought they could.

They thought that once the censorship was approved, everything would be fine, and they could film it as long as they had the money. But if they accepted money from big companies and state-owned producers, they would have to accept the resources and demands they imposed on them.

Resources certainly include behind-the-scenes production staff. China Film Group currently employs nearly a thousand behind-the-scenes production staff. Shall we give them to you?

Although Bona Film Group doesn't employ such a large team and has always used Hong Kong teams, should we try to get some of their production managers to work with you?

If that's the case, Qin Xuan's team won't need to be built; they can simply use other people's talent.

Furthermore, if we accept their conditions and change the behind-the-scenes team, the Hong Kong team will inevitably get involved as well.

The Hong Kong team was involved in "The Founding of a Republic," including Peter Chan and Wu Baige.

Bona Film Group has such a close relationship with the Hong Kong team that it's unavoidable.

"You think they can do it? You think you can lead them to victory?" Zuo Shandiao retorted.

This means that he is not formally trained and therefore lacks the necessary skills.

"If you have any doubts about me, why did you invite me here?" Qin Xuan shrugged.

Zuo Shandiao stared intently at the other party, and the previously harmonious scene turned heavy, as if the talks were about to break down.

Shen Ao and the others opened their mouths, wanting to calm down, but they couldn't say anything because of a lump in their throats.

What can they say? That they can?
Zuo Shandiao had always doubted their ability to make such a blockbuster, and any declaration of determination from them was laughable.

You can't expect others to agree with you just by saying a few words.

Fatty Yu glanced at Zuo Shandiao, then at President Xuan, and said with a darting look in his eyes, "President Xuan, we don't want to replace you. Of course, you can step down as director, but we just want to make this movie well, and it's for your own good."

As you know, you're not the only film on the Nanjing theme; there's "City of Life and Death" and "The Flowers of War," both are your competitors.

China Film Group was involved in "City of Life and Death" but no one could get involved in "The Flowers of War". Zhang Weiping got all the credit, because he has the Zhang Yimou brand, so he can ignore everyone else. This is also why Bona Film Group needs a film of this kind.

Qin Xuan could have ignored everyone, but China Film Group controls imported film resources, making things difficult for him.

One has to admire Zhang Weiping's courage; not only did he dare to point his finger at Zuo Shandiao and curse him, but he also refused to give you any share, choosing to eat it all himself.

Although Qin Xuan had a conflict of interest with him, he admired him greatly. Zhang Weiping did what even a reborn person like himself wouldn't dare to do.

Enough said, Zhang Weiping is awesome!
“I know you mean well, and as I just said, I’m very grateful. But I have my own brothers, and I can’t abandon them for my own sake. They’ve put in a lot of effort for this movie, and I hope that effort will pay off.” Qin Xuan patted Shen Ao’s shoulder, who was sitting closest to him.

This moved him deeply, and it moved everyone else as well, confirming that they hadn't followed the wrong person.

If you've chosen the wrong person to follow, no one sitting here would insist on standing with Zuo Shandiao; instead, they would agree to Zuo Shandiao's conditions, since he's offering money and resources.

Then they'll just become victims, wasting another ten years. By then, the market will have changed, internet capital will launch a massive offensive, breaking them up, and then they'll have a chance.

"So it turns out that President Xuan is a man of strong emotions after all!" Zuo Shandiao's tone softened a bit.

"I always remember how I rose to power and where I came from, so I can agree to any of your requests, except for the personnel arrangements behind the scenes, which I regret I cannot comply with." Qin Xuan's words were already very clear.

“In that case, we don’t need to get involved.” Zuo Shandiao looked at Fatty Yu.

Fatty Yu thought to himself, "I'll listen to the boss!"

They were afraid the other party would produce a bad film. A script is a story, just a blueprint. If the blueprint cannot be realized, even the best story is bad.

Even if a director's blueprint is terrible, he can still create a visual and auditory feast. That's the difference.

Shen Ao, Wen Muye, Zhang Linke and others were very disappointed. They did not expect that China Film Group would choose to give up the cooperation because of them, which hurt them deeply.

"I...I want to ask something,"

The Olympic bidder mustered his courage: "Why do you think we can't do it? Just because we're young?"

Zhang Linke, Wen Muye, and the others also looked at Zuo Shandiao. Although they shouldn't have asked this question, they were still a little unconvinced.

"Because you've never filmed or participated in a big movie like this before, you can't handle it."

Zuo Shandiao's tone was relatively mild, but he felt that this was a bit of a blow, so he said in an educational tone: "You have to eat one bite at a time, don't be in such a hurry. Back then, your senior brother Ning Hao didn't say he wanted to make a movie like this after he finished making 'Crazy Stone'. He still started with a small budget and realistic comedy."

He believed that what he said was correct, and indeed it was correct, but he was very dissatisfied that Shen Ao and his team had been outmaneuvered by Qin Xuan.

(End of this chapter)