Huayu 2011: Starting with Hilarious Men

Chapter 78 Negotiating Conditions

The incident Zhang Chaoyang was referring to was naturally the Weibo war that happened some time ago.

Before meeting Zheng Nan, Zhang Chaoyang could only learn bits and pieces of information from other people.

My impression of Zheng Nan can be summed up in a few labels: a 19-year-old student at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, a talented young person, and someone who once sparked a Weibo war.

Through these labels, Zhang Chaoyang constructed the image of Zheng Nan as an arrogant and rebellious young man.

But after just a few minutes of contact today, Zheng Nan's image in Zhang Chaoyang's mind underwent a complete 180-degree reversal.

This young man is not arrogant at all; he is humble and polite, and he is particularly good at speaking the truth.

That's why Zhang Chaoyang asked that question.

"In life, there are things we should do and things we shouldn't do." Zheng Nan paused for two seconds, looked directly into Zhang Chaoyang's eyes, and said these words.

After Qu Wanting's incident, many people advised or even criticized Zheng Nan for acting too impulsively.

As a Northeasterner who knew what Qu Wanting's family was doing and had the ability to stop it, Zheng Nan couldn't stand idly by.

Arresting Zhang Mingjie earlier would have saved so many ordinary people from suffering!

Zheng Nan hoarded so much cryptocurrency to have confidence, not to remain silent!

Zhang Chaoyang stared intently at Zheng Nan for a long time before slowly saying, "I admire you and I agree with you, but I have to tell you that your behavior has made some people unhappy, very unhappy."

The entertainment industry is a circle; we are all interconnected.

The same principle applies to the circle Zhang Mingjie belongs to; some people in the circle want to protect her, while others want to get rid of her.

But all these thoughts were kept in secret; only you came out and openly overturned the table!

In any circle, flipping the table is a situation that is only used in extreme circumstances.

Today you, Zheng Nan, exposed Zhang Mingjie; tomorrow, will you expose someone else?

Zhang Mingjie is indeed not clean, but Zheng Nan has also broken taboos in what she did.

Zhang Chaoyang knew that Zheng Nan was a smart person, so he only hinted at some things and didn't say anything more.

He then turned to business: "You've been contacted by quite a few platforms lately, haven't you?"

"Indeed, quite a few platforms have contacted us, and the offers they made are all very sincere." Zheng Nan didn't mention the specific price, only that they were very sincere. As for how sincere they were, you, Sohu, can guess for yourselves.

Anyway, the "Hilarious Men" IP has already been established.

Sohu also gained the reputation of being a "leader in online dramas" thanks to "Hilarious Men".

If "Hilarious Men" were to suddenly switch platforms at this time, it would be a huge blow to Sohu's reputation.

So now the initiative is in Zheng Nan's hands, and Sohu should be the one getting anxious.

"They have sincerity, and so does Sohu, and their sincerity will only be greater. Sohu dared to make a big bet on the first season of 'Hilarious Men,' but they wouldn't dare!" Zhang Chaoyang said confidently.

Sohu's current situation certainly gives Zhang Chaoyang the confidence to say this.

"Sohu is indeed powerful." Speaking from a business perspective, Zheng Nan wouldn't lower the price just because of Zhang Chaoyang's words.

Seeing that words alone wouldn't sway Zheng Nan, Zhang Chaoyang decided to offer some concrete advice, asking with a smile, "I heard Zheng Nan, you want to make a movie?"

"I want to." Zheng Nan nodded. It was true, and there was nothing to be ashamed of in admitting it.

"Other film and television platforms are only after the copyright of 'Hilarious Men,' but they won't support you in making a movie." Zhang Chaoyang was telling the truth.

Platforms and investors are essentially profit-driven and stability-seeking.

If you can't generate stable returns, why would investors invest in you? They'd be better off just putting their money in a bank.

Therefore, they only invest in movies they believe in.

At this point in time, Shen Teng has not yet been born, and very few comedians have achieved success in making movies, resulting in a very low status for comedians in the film industry, almost to the point of sitting at the same table as dogs.

Zheng Nan, who makes web comedies, is considered less important than a professional comedian by the platform and investors.

"So Sohu is willing to invest in my movie?" Zheng Nan asked rhetorically, though he didn't believe Sohu would invest in him so easily.

After Dapeng's success with "Men's Diary" in his previous life, he faced great difficulties in making movies.

Sohu is only willing to support large-scale film productions because they can only shoot urban films, which are easy to integrate into movies, have low budgets, and can recoup losses by releasing the films on Sohu Video.

Thus, many guest stars had to rely on the studio's personal connections to be invited.

For the sake of the movie "Jianbing Man", the production team went to great lengths to build the studio.

As a result, Sohu made a fortune and paid off many years of favors owed to Dapeng.

If Sohu treats its own people like this, how can it treat Zheng Nan, an outsider, any better?

"I'm willing and I'm not willing," Zhang Chaoyang said in a roundabout way.

"I'd like to hear the details." Zheng Nan disliked riddle-makers!

Riddler, get off the planet!

"Personally, I'm willing to support you in making movies, but Sohu isn't just my company. There are many people in the company who aren't willing to support you in making movies." Zhang Chaoyang said this in an extremely righteous and noble way.

Zheng Nan chuckled inwardly. Although Sohu wasn't Zhang Chaoyang's personal fiefdom, investing in a movie wouldn't be difficult for him. This excuse was too flimsy.

Seeing that Zheng Nan didn't respond, Liu Chun offered Zhang Chaoyang a way out.

"That's how big companies are. There are many senior executives and many disagreements. It's not just targeting Zheng Nan."

"I cherish talent and am willing to support Director Zheng in making movies, but there are conditions." Having said all that, Zhang Chaoyang revealed his true colors.

"What are the conditions?" Zheng Nan asked.

"Director Zheng will produce a web series for Sohu for free. If the web series is successful, Sohu will support Director Zheng in making a movie." Zhang Chaoyang opened his mouth wide and began to negotiate.

Sohu reaped the benefits of the web series boom brought by "Hilarious Men" and became a leader in web series.

However, this position is too precarious with only one web series, "Hilarious Men," below it.

If Sohu wants to become a true leader in online dramas, it needs a second hit online drama besides "Hilarious Men"!

Currently, Zheng Nan is the only person with successful experience in producing web series.

Zheng Nan is young, talented, and has successful experience, making her the best candidate.

Large companies are accustomed to path dependence, so Zhang Chaoyang wanted to extract more valuable things from Zheng Nan.

"Free?! Making a web series for Sohu?!" Zheng Nan almost laughed in anger; Zhang Chaoyang really dared to dream.

"I wonder what kind of support Sohu can offer?" Zheng Nan asked, suppressing her anger.

"Help with project initiation, approval processes, scheduling, and so on—" Zhang Chaoyang said a lot, but there was no real financial support.

"I suddenly don't want to make movies anymore." Zheng Nan directly shattered Zhang Chaoyang's delusion.

I just want to make movies, I don't have to. What gives you, Zhang Chaoyang, the right to use this to control me?

"Young man, don't be too impatient. Cooperation requires discussion. Tell me what you want," Zhang Chaoyang said, revealing his businessman's shrewdness.

>