Huayu: I rely on hit-movie tactics to interweave...

Chapter 63 Huayi Earthquake: Making a Little Money

The news of Wang Jinghua's departure from Huayi Brothers spread throughout the entertainment industry the day after Liu Yu flew to the United States.

The top agents, representing half of Huayi Brothers' talent pool, have all jumped ship.

The combination of these words has an impact comparable to the trailer for a blockbuster movie.

Liu Yu has been in the industry for so many years and has seen many personnel changes, but this is the first time he has seen a group of dozens of celebrities leave together like Wang Jinghua.

He mentally counted the names under Sister Hua's company: Chen Daoming, Liu Jialing, Xia Yu, Hu Jun, Ren Quan, and Li Binbin.

Neither of the two ice creams left.

Liu Yu only saw the updated message later; both Fan Binbin and Li Binbin chose to stay.

This detail is quite interesting. He was lying on his hotel bed in a foreign country when he thought that Huayi must have given them some kind of incentive, the kind that made them feel that staying was more worthwhile than going with Sister Hua.

It's not about money; at their level, money is no longer the primary driving force.

It's a resource, an opportunity, and the position of number one.

The media headlines were increasingly sensational.

"Huayi has been hollowed out!"

"Wang Jinghua took away half of Huayi's business!"

Huayi Brothers is facing its biggest crisis since its founding!

After looking through them, Liu Yu felt that although the headlines were exaggerated, they weren't entirely unreasonable.

Huayi Brothers has grown so big over the years thanks to two things: Feng Xiaogang's films and Wang Jinghua's artist resources.

With Jinghua gone, it's like a sick person losing a crutch; whether they can even stand up anymore is now a question.

Wang Zhongjun, who rarely makes public appearances, couldn't sit still any longer.

Liu Yu saw an interview video online. Wang Zhongjun, wearing a dark jacket and with a serious expression, said a harsh statement to the camera: "If it were me leaving, that would be more like it. Huayi can do without anyone!"

These words sounded forceful, but Liu Yu could sense the underlying weakness.

A boss who truly has no shortage of staff wouldn't say something like that.

The division of labor between the two Huayi brothers has always been clear: the elder brother, Wang Zhongjun, is in charge of internal affairs, including company management and capital operations.

The younger brother, Wang Zhonglei, is in charge of external affairs, including business and artist relations.

Liu Yu had interacted with Wang Zhonglei several times, including at the premiere of "A World Without Thieves" and at several industry dinners.

Wang Zhonglei is a man with high emotional intelligence and good interpersonal skills; he has a completely different style from his brother.

Wang Zhongjun rarely makes public appearances, and when he does, it's always at crucial junctures. His recent strong statements indicate that the situation is more tense than he anticipated.

Wang Zhonglei acted much faster than Liu Yu had anticipated.

He first stabilized the relationship between Bing and Shuang. These two had not followed Sister Hua and were Huayi's biggest assets at the moment, so they could not afford to have any more problems.

Liu Yu later heard from friends in the industry about the specific process by which Wang Zhonglei comforted Fan Binbin and Li Binbin, and the details were even more exciting than he had imagined.

Wang Zhonglei first went to see Fan Binbin and treated her to a meal.

No one knows the specifics of the conversation at the dinner table. The version that circulated later was that Wang Zhonglei called Fan Binbin "Little Fatty," which was his nickname for her, and he had been calling her that since she first joined Huayi.

Fan Binbin was stunned for a moment, probably not expecting Wang Zhonglei to come in person, and in this manner.

"Little Fatty, I've been quite busy with work lately and haven't been able to take care of you as much as I could. I hope you understand." Wang Zhonglei's tone was very sincere, as if he were apologizing to an old friend, rather than a boss speaking to an artist.

Fan Binbin certainly knew what it was about; the news was everywhere, so he couldn't pretend he didn't know.

She smiled, picked up her teacup and took a sip. "It's alright, Mr. Wang. Everyone has difficult times."

She looked relaxed when she said this, but only she knows what she was thinking.

She must have weighed her options before deciding not to go with Wang Jinghua.

Sister Hua has been really good to her, and she has never stopped receiving resources over the years. But no matter how capable Sister Hua is, her plate is only so big. With dozens of people sharing it, only a limited portion can be taken from her.

Staying at Huayi is different; the more she travels, the higher her position becomes.

This is a gamble, a gamble on whether Huayi can survive.

If she pulls through, she will undoubtedly be the top star; if she doesn't, it's not too late for her to leave.

Wang Zhonglei continued, "The company has a new film project called 'A Battle of Wits,' which brings together teams from China, Japan, and South Korea. It's a major project for the company this year. Andy Lau has already been confirmed to star in it. The film is missing a female lead, and the company has decided to give it to you."

Fan Binbin was overjoyed; this was exactly what she wanted.

She didn't leave with Wang Jinghua because she thought, "If you all leave, I'll naturally become Huayi's number one female artist."

Now you see, Mr. Wang personally gave me the lead actress; choosing to stay back then was indeed a wise decision.

She raised her glass and toasted Wang Zhonglei, her smile barely concealed.

Wang Zhonglei felt that wasn't enough; he wanted to put Fan Binbin's mind at ease completely.

He put down his wine glass and added, "Yongle Film & Television has a drama called 'The Legend of the Gods: Phoenix Cries in Qishan,' which has already started filming. The female lead, Daji, hadn't been cast yet, but the company has secured her for you. You can fly to Hengdian the day after tomorrow."

Fan Binbin felt more and more that staying at Huayi was the right decision. He held back his laughter and raised his glass to toast again.

"Thank you, Mr. Wang. I will definitely not let the company down."

"Work hard, the company has high hopes for you and considers you their number one." Wang Zhonglei finally acknowledged Fan Binbin's status as the number one female employee.

"Yes! Thank you, Mr. Wang!"

When Fan Binbin walked out of the restaurant, his steps were as light as if he were walking on cotton.

She put on her sunglasses, afraid of being recognized by passersby, and the smile on her lips never faded.

The assistant was waiting by the car and opened the car door when she saw her come out.

She sat down, leaned back in her seat, and let out a long sigh.

Mr. Wang's personal invitation speaks volumes; the lead role plus Daji (a powerful female character) represents resources; the top-tier status is a promise. With all three things laid out before her, she had no reason to be dissatisfied.

It was late at night when Wang Zhonglei came out of the restaurant. He stood at the door, lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and put it out.

Fan Binbin's situation is settled, but Li Binbin's is more difficult to handle.

Li Binbin is different from Fan Binbin. Fan Binbin is the kind of person who will take whatever you give her, while Li Binbin is the kind of person you have to ask her what she wants first.

Two people have different personalities, so the ways to comfort them should not be the same.

He got into the car and told the driver Li Binbin's home address.

Li Binbin had just finished filming "Eight Heroes" and returned to Beijing for a few days of rest.

She stayed at Huayi Brothers with the same ambition of becoming the "number one female star," but her approach was much more subtle than Fan Binbin's.

She won't actively fight for it, but she'll let you know what she wants.

When Wang Zhonglei arrived at her home, she was wearing a loungewear set, her hair was casually tied up, and she was without makeup. She looked several years younger than she does on screen.

She invited Wang Zhonglei into the living room, poured him two cups of tea, and had him sit down.

Wang Zhonglei didn't beat around the bush. He knew Li Binbin's personality too well; if you tried to be roundabout with her, she would be even more roundabout than you.

"Bingbing, the company has secured an audition opportunity for you. It's a big project for China Film Group this year..." Before he could finish speaking, Li Binbin interrupted.

"Isn't Liu's 'The Man from Nowhere' a major project for China Film Group this year?" Her tone was flat, as if she were confirming a fact.

Wang Zhonglei didn't respond to that. He continued, "China Film Group doesn't just have 'The Lone Agent' this year; they also have 'The Knot.' Starring Chen Kun and Vivian Hsu. The company got you an audition; this film is aiming for awards. Go check it out tomorrow."

Li Binbin held her teacup without saying a word. She had a scale in her heart, weighing whether this role was worth the trip.

She didn't lash out in person; she knew that given Huayi's current situation, throwing a tantrum was inappropriate. She nodded, which was considered an agreement.

Wang Zhonglei noticed her emotions and added, "The company will also be making a female-led drama called 'Huiniang Wanxin,' and you'll be playing the role."

Li Binbin's mood improved slightly; this promise was far more valuable than the second female lead role in "The Knot".

She put down her teacup, looked at Wang Zhonglei, and said, "Mr. Wang, thank you very much."

It was already past midnight when Wang Zhonglei left Li Binbin's house.

Fan Binbin and Li Binbin both managed to stay calm, which was the best he could do before.

Wang Jinghua is gone, Chen Daoming is gone, Carina Lau is gone—these are things he couldn't stop.

As long as Bingbing and Fan Bingbing are still around, Huayi Brothers' artist management business will have at least a sliver of life left.

Whether it can survive depends on whether the next project can be completed.

A week later, Liu Yu, Lu Yang, and Zhong Lifang flew back to Beijing from Los Angeles.

The plane landed at 7 p.m. Liu Yu walked out of the jet bridge, took out his phone and turned it on. A series of messages flooded in, and the screen stayed lit for a while before stopping.

He marked several items, mostly work-related and not urgent, except for one from Luo Jing: "Director Liu, when are you arriving?"

Liu Yu replied: "Just landed."

The three of them dragged their luggage out of the airport and immediately spotted Luojing.

He stood at the entrance of the arrival hall, wearing a black T-shirt and a baseball cap, looking like an ordinary friend who had come to pick him up, not a celebrity.

He saw Liu Yu and waved, "Director Liu, over here."

Liu Yu walked over, and Luo Jing took the suitcase from his hand. The two walked out side by side.

Lu Yang and Zhong Lifang followed behind. Lu Yang was still looking at his phone, probably replying to messages.

The car was parked in the parking lot; it was a black minivan. Luo Jing opened the door and let them get in. After they got in, Luo Jing sat in the driver's seat, started the car, and drove out of the parking lot.

"Director Liu, how did the talks go in the US?" Luo Jing glanced at Liu Yu in the rearview mirror.

"Not bad. The 'Witch' project is settled, Lionsgate is investing, it's a co-production." Liu Yu leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. He hadn't adjusted to the time difference yet, and his head was a little sore.

Luo Jing didn't ask for details and drove to a Hunan restaurant.

He booked a private room in advance; it wasn't big, but it was very quiet.

The four of them sat down, ordered their food, and while waiting for it, Liu Yu briefly recounted the story of "The Witch".

"Is this collaboration with 'The Man from Nowhere' the same?" Luo Jing asked tentatively.

Liu Yu picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Hmm, there's a role in it that would suit you. Go get the script from Director Lu later."

Luo Jing gave a wry smile. "I shouldn't have heard all that. If I had accidentally let it slip, things would have gotten quite interesting."

He said this with a serious expression, not like he was joking.

Liu Yu knew his personality; Luo Jing was a tight-lipped person who wouldn't utter a single word he shouldn't.

"Lionsgate will announce this later, and everyone will know then."

Luo Jing picked up a piece of pork rib, chewed it a couple of times, and suddenly asked, "How much investment is involved?"

Liu Yu glanced at Lu Yang, who understood and took over the conversation.

Thirty million US dollars.

Luo Jing nearly choked on a piece of pork rib. He put down his chopsticks, picked up his water glass, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and stared wide-eyed at Liu Yu.

"More than 'The Man from Nowhere'?"

Liu Yu nodded, offered no further explanation, and lowered his head to eat.

After finishing his meal, Luo Jing drove Liu Yu and the other two to their company and then drove away.

When he got home, just as he was about to turn around and go upstairs, his phone vibrated.

It's Yan Danchen.

He answered the phone, and her voice came through, "You've arrived? Why didn't you tell me?"

Liu Yu leaned against the pillar by the door, looking up at the few windows upstairs that were lit up.

"Just arrived and had dinner with Luo Jing. I was just about to call you." He lied; he wasn't actually planning to call her. He was going to go back to the company to handle some urgent matters before making the call.

"You didn't tell me your flight details, I thought you weren't coming back." There was a hint of complaint in her voice, but more than that, there was worry.

"Why wouldn't you come back? Your home is right here."

Yan Danchen paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, then lowered her voice, "When are you free?"

Let's meet.

Liu Yu thought for a moment, "I'm going to see President Han at China Film Group these few days. I should be free after that. I'll contact you then."

"Okay. You go ahead and do your thing." She hung up the phone.

Liu Yu looked at his phone screen; the call had lasted four minutes.

He checked his call log; the last call was five days ago, and the one before that was eight days ago.

The intervals were getting longer, but the durations were getting shorter. This trend made him uneasy, but he didn't know how to change it.

The next day, Liu Yu turned on his computer.

The entertainment section of the portal website still features news about Huayi Brothers, although the hype has subsided somewhat, the aftershocks are still lingering.

Liu Yu glanced at the photos and saw the pictures of himself taken at the airport yesterday and today.

He walked side by side with Luo Jing at the entrance of the arrival hall, with Zhong Lifang and Lu Yang beside them.

The headline was somewhat baffling: "Liu Yu returns to China with his team, and Luo Jing greets him discreetly at the airport."

He was about to call Han Sanping when his phone rang first.

Han Sanping's name popped up on the screen. Liu Yu smiled and answered the call.

"Liu Yu, you came back sneakily? If it weren't for the people downstairs reading the gossip, I wouldn't have known you were back today." Han Sanping's tone was reproachful, but there was an undisguised excitement in his voice, like a child waiting to unwrap a present.

Liu Yu leaned back in his chair. "Mr. Han is too kind. I was just about to head over."

"If there's nothing else, come over here." Han Sanping's tone left no room for refusal.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yu greeted Zhong Lifang and asked the company driver to take him to China Film Group.

Liu Yu sat in the back seat, mentally preparing his negotiation strategy with Han Sanping.

China Film Group (CFG) is determined to get involved in the "Witch" project, not because CFG needs CFG's money, but because CFG holds the import rights for foreign films—the only import rights.

Shanghai Film Group can only watch with envy. Without the backing of China Film Group, the approval process for this co-production to be successfully released in mainland China would be incredibly frustrating.

This isn't just Liu Yu's experience; it's the shared experience of everyone who makes co-productions.

The car stopped in front of the China Film Building. Liu Yu pushed open the door and went inside. The young woman at the front desk recognized him and greeted him with a smile, "Director Liu, President Han is waiting for you upstairs."

Liu Yu nodded and got on the elevator.

When the elevator doors opened, several employees of China Film Group passed by in the corridor. Some of them recognized him, greeted him, and congratulated him on the successful launch of "The Man from Nowhere" in Hollywood.

Liu Yu responded to each question without stopping, and walked to the door of Han Sanping's office.

The door was open, and Han Sanping was sitting behind his desk, answering a phone call. When he saw Liu Yu come in, he pointed to the sofa, indicating that he should sit down first.

Liu Yu sat down, watched Han Sanping hang up the phone, and leaned back in his chair.

"Liu Yu, besides the post-production of 'The Man from Nowhere,' what else did you do on your trip to America?" Han Sanping's tone was as if he were in a cafeteria, and his expression was smiling.

Liu Yu didn't beat around the bush. Having dealt with Han Sanping for so many years, he knew that this man didn't like listening to nonsense.

If you're going to say nothing, then say something substantial.

"President Han, I wonder how much the group has left for foreign film investment this year? Or rather, how strict are the controls on foreign film investment?" Liu Yu looked into Han Sanping's eyes, waiting for his reply.

Han Sanping's expression changed from relaxed to focused. He sat up straight and placed his hands on the table.

Liu Yu had been on the other side of the ocean for almost two weeks and only returned to China yesterday. The fact that he asked me this question after seeing me makes it obvious, doesn't it?

"A project?" Han Sanping asked, his voice very low.

Liu Yu laughed, "Hehe, I knew I couldn't hide it from President Han. I've finalized a deal with Lionsgate for a sci-fi film with a budget of thirty million US dollars. I'm holding half the investment, but I can't come up with that much cash all at once. I was wondering if President Han would be interested?"

Han Sanping's eyes shone like a young man's. He didn't answer immediately, but leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice.

"Are you sure it's a good project?"

Liu Yu didn't give a definitive answer; he wasn't the type to constantly promise to make money—that sounded too much like a con artist.

"Who dares to make such a guarantee?" He paused. "Lionsgate approves, and there are no issues with global distribution channels."

Han Sanping got a little excited and slammed his right fist on the desk with a loud bang.

"Half of it! China Film Group could take it all!"

Liu Yu was startled by his imposing manner. He had expected Han Sanping to be interested, but he hadn't expected him to be this interested.

"President Han, shouldn't the group hold a meeting?" Liu Yu reminded him. "Besides, I can't give it all to China Film Group. I need to keep some for myself, and I'm planning to find another company to partner with."

Han Sanping was taken aback, and then became somewhat displeased.

"China Film Group is enough, who else do we need? Who is qualified?" He said this with his chin slightly raised, not deliberately.

"Besides China Film Group, I'd also like to invite a private film company," Liu Yu said softly.

Han Sanping looked at him, his gaze filled with scrutiny and surprise.

"You've taken good care of me," he said irritably.

Liu Yu smiled and said, "I mainly want to earn some hard-earned money."

He didn't say he was selling shares at a premium, but the meaning was clear.

He wanted to take a cut from the deal, not out of greed, but out of adherence to the rules.

It's only natural that he should earn a commission for the projects he brought in, the schemes he set up, and the risks he took.

"So after all that talk, China Film Group might only get a fraction in the end." Han Sanping shook his head, both amused and exasperated, and took a sip of his tea.

Liu Yu didn't respond to that question; he knew that Han Sanping wasn't refusing, but rather bargaining.