Huayu 2011: Starting with Hilarious Men

Chapter 79 Betting Contract

Asking for exorbitant prices and then negotiating on the spot—this is the foundation of a businessman's business.

Zhang Chaoyang is ultimately a big businessman, not a teacher.

It would be best to coax Zheng Nan with words, but if you can't, you won't lose anything.

"It's possible to make web series, but it's impossible to make them for free. Besides, Sohu would have to pay copyright fees, and making movies requires real money investment," Zheng Nan replied.

"Let's discuss this one thing at a time." Zhang Chaoyang had his secretary come in and pour some tea, and then they slowly discussed the details of the cooperation.

"First of all, it's unrealistic to pay copyright fees for making web series. Sohu paid the copyright fees, which Sohu paid for. Why should they support you in making movies?"

Secondly, there are barriers to making movies, and these barriers are increasing year by year. There are hurdles at every step, from project approval and submission for review to distribution, theater chains, scheduling, and publicity.

It's unrealistic for newcomers to enter the film industry without putting in some effort.

Unless you say that all the profits from making the movie go to Sohu, and the copyright also belongs to Sohu, and that the profits stay with Sohu, then I can support your movie-making for free!

Zhang Chaoyang's words clearly analyzed the interests involved.

Society is realistic; if you want something, you have to put in the effort.

"The value of the 'Hilarious Men' IP doesn't need much explanation now. I can help Sohu establish a similar 'Hilarious Women' IP through licensing and production. Sohu owns the IP, and the cast is entirely selected by Sohu." Zheng Nan began to offer concessions.

In fact, Zheng Nan had planned to sell this portion of the profits long ago. He had discussed this topic with Yu Shasha when she made a cameo appearance.

"What makes you think the IP 'Lady Laughs' can be established?" Liu Chun asked.

"You select the lead actors for 'Laughing Lady,' and I'll bring them into the show 'Laughing Man,' give them roles, and let them become familiar faces. After that, I'll end the 'Laughing Man' IP and start the 'Laughing Lady' project again."

If longtime viewers can't watch "Hilarious Men," they can only choose "Hilarious Women" as a substitute. After going through all this, if the "Hilarious Women" IP still can't be established, then that's just fate.

"If you agree with my plan, I suggest you cast Yu Shasha and Da Peng as the leads for 'Lady of Laughter'." Zheng Nan laid out her prepared speech in full.

"Even if it succeeds, 'Lady's Laughter' is similar in type and style to 'Men's Laughter,' it's unlikely to surpass 'Men's Laughter.' That's a possibility, but not enough," Zhang Chaoyang shook his head.

Sohu hopes to expand its online drama portfolio, rather than being stuck with "Hilarious Men".

Zheng Nan's suggestion was good, but the effect of attracting new users with the same web series theme was predictably poor, which was something Zhang Chaoyang couldn't accept.

"Isn't that enough?!" Zheng Nan genuinely felt that Zhang Chaoyang's appetite was too big and too greedy.

Seeing that the situation was about to reach a stalemate, Liu Chun stepped forward and suggested, "Let me share my thoughts."

"The suggestion of 'Lady Laughs' is acceptable, and we should also add a web series."

"Old Liu's suggestion is great!" Zhang Chaoyang agreed before Liu Chun could finish speaking.

"How much money is Sohu prepared to spend on adding another web series?" Zheng Nan asked directly.

"We need to discuss the money." Liu Chun didn't have the authority to make the final decision, so he could only look to Zhang Chaoyang.

It was another long and drawn-out struggle.

The preliminary conclusion reached was that Sohu invested 10 million yuan to have Zheng Nan produce a web series, and then the investment amount was calculated based on the number of views of the web series; 100 million views would be equivalent to 2 million yuan.

"You can make web series longer. The longer you make them, the more views you get; the more views you get, the more your investment translates to," Zhang Chaoyang suggested.

Zheng Nan didn't even bother to answer. With an investment of only ten million, the longer the filming goes, the lower the quality will be. Low quality means fewer viewers, and without viewers, how can there be any viewership?

"I want to clarify one point: the converted money cannot be counted as Sohu's share of the investment." Zheng Nan didn't want the profits from the movie he worked so hard to make to end up in Sohu's pocket.

"Why can't it be considered a profit-sharing arrangement?" Zhang Chaoyang expressed his dissatisfaction.

"You didn't pay me any copyright fees for the web series, so why should Sohu get a share?"

"I invested ten million to film this!"

"Will you cover my script, directing, and filming costs?"

"If we don't consider revenue sharing, then 100 million views can't be converted to 2 million!"

It was another long and drawn-out struggle.

The conclusion this time is: 100 million views translates to 2 million in marketing and distribution costs, with a minimum of 5 million and no upper limit. At the same time, Sohu will directly receive 10% of the profits from Zheng Nan's film.

The two million yuan, converted from cash, became marketing and publicity expenses.

Don't underestimate the cost of publicity and promotion.

The quality of a film guarantees a minimum box office performance.

If a film is well-made, of high quality, and has an audience, then word-of-mouth marketing will guarantee its basic box office success.

But marketing and distribution can push up the box office ceiling!

Moreover, it doesn't require judging the quality of the film; it simply relies on marketing and promotion to lure audiences into the theater.

Many movies become popular thanks to effective marketing and promotion.

The most famous example from abroad is "The Blair Witch Project," which, with a budget of only $60,000, raked in $2.48 million at the global box office by combining a mockumentary, internet rumors, and heavy marketing.

The most famous example in China is "Hot Hot", which became popular purely through its publicity and raked in 34.6 billion yuan at the box office during the 2024 Spring Festival.

Moreover, paying for publicity and distribution is a condition acceptable to both parties.

Much of the publicity and marketing budget allocated by Sohu circulates internally within Sohu, with very little actual cash out of the company, which is why Sohu can accept it.

Zheng Nan was able to get free publicity and leverage Sohu's resources, so she was willing to accept it.

"What if you're faking your view counts?" By now, Zheng Nan had started to view Sohu and Zhang Chaoyang with prejudice.

"Believe me, Sohu wants this web series to succeed even more than you do." Zhang Chaoyang said this sincerely.

Indeed, if Sohu wants to maintain its position as the "leader in online dramas," it hopes that Zheng Nan's online dramas will become a huge hit and go viral.

For the platform, new users are more important than money.

If Zheng Nan's new web series shows signs of becoming popular, Sohu will have to inflate the viewership numbers.

They talked for eight days straight, discussing various contract details from the seventh day of the Lunar New Year to the fifteenth.

Finally, Sennan Entertainment and Sohu signed multiple contracts respectively.

These are the exclusive purchase contracts (five-year copyright) for the third season of "Hilarious Men".

Online drama viewership-based investment contract (the online drama is limited to urban genres and cannot be related to "Hilarious Men")

Similarly, it also has a five-year copyright.

"Laughing Lady" undertook the project initiation contract of "Laughing Man", etc.

"Ten million will be deposited into Sennan Entertainment's public funds account within three working days. I hope to see Director Zheng's new web series as soon as possible." After signing the contract, Zhang Chaoyang showed a kind smile.