The entertainment empire began with Liu Yifei's premarital pregnancy.

"Here's the thing, Director Zhang Lai, our company is currently preparing to shoot a historical film. I was wondering if you'd be interested?" Wang Mingliang asked directly.

If the other party is not interested, he will have to find someone else as soon as possible.

"Mr. Wang, I'm interested."

Zhang Lai hurriedly spoke up.

Why did he serve as the cinematographer for "The Banquet" and "Red Cliff"?

He just wants to enter the film industry.

He did make another film later, but it wasn't very well received and could only be considered 'mediocre,' so he was completely shut out of the film industry.

The movie he directed was called "1911 Revolution". It had a production cost of 30 million, but the final box office was only 50 million, which can be said to be a huge loss.

Normally, a film with a production cost of 30 million yuan needs to gross 90 million yuan to break even.

The box office of 50 million yuan resulted in a loss of more than 10 million yuan for the investors.

This film marked Zhang Lai's first foray into directing films after transitioning from television dramas, and unsurprisingly, he lost.

After that, Zhang Lai never came into contact with any film-related resources again.

Lin Bufan knew this too, but he also knew that Zhang Lai's fault was not in the war. Mainstream TV dramas are easy to make, and it doesn't matter if the ratings are a little low, as long as they are classic enough.

Take the TV series "Da Ming 1566" for example. Its ratings were dismal after it premiered, but that didn't stop it from becoming a classic.

But movies are different. No matter how classic your film is, if it doesn't do well at the box office, it's not good, unless it's an art film that can win awards.

For example, directors of Jia Zhangke's generation made films not for release, but to win awards overseas.

Laymen might naively believe that these directors, who uphold art, are not motivated by money and are simply adhering to their principles.

But only those in the know understand.

Even the most artistic director is useless if they don't make money.

You might think that art film directors, when making art-themed films, don't make money at the box office, and that neither the investors nor the directors make any money, are actually contributing to the film industry.

In reality, there wouldn't be investors or directors that foolish.

For example, Jia Zhangke's 06 film "Still Life" had an investment of six million yuan, but the copyright was sold overseas for more than forty million yuan.

Since it was an overseas copyright sale, and the amount was after tax, it can be said that the investors made a net profit of more than 30 million.

A movie that made a net profit of over 30 million yuan, equivalent to an investment of 10 million yuan, but ultimately grossed over 100 million yuan at the box office. So, as long as it's a movie, the goal is to make money.

Mainstream films are actually very difficult to make, so Lin Bufan is willing to give Zhang Lai a chance, it just depends on whether he can seize it.

"In that case, come to the company at one o'clock this afternoon, and we'll talk in person."

During the phone call, Wang Mingliang showed no surprise whatsoever.

He knew very well that almost no TV drama director in the industry would be uninterested in having access to film resources, especially those released by their Kyoto Group.

In fact, one of the directors signed with Kyoto Animation Studios is Zhang Ting, who is good at making historical films. His "Ming Dynasty" series was very well received.

But Wang Mingliang knew very well that the Ming Dynasty series alone was enough for him to make.

Lin Bufan will not allow him to film other genres of movies or TV series before the entire Ming Dynasty series has been completed.

Historical films, especially a series.

Once he's fully immersed in the role, he won't have the energy to film anything else. If you ask him to film something like the Three Kingdoms period, it's very likely he'll flop.

At that point, not only will the Three Kingdoms IP be ruined, but the Ming Dynasty series might also fail to be filmed properly.

……

"Old Zhang, what's wrong?"

Seeing Zhang Lai excitedly gesturing after hanging up the phone, Xiao Songjia asked him some questions out of curiosity.

Although she was right beside him the whole time, she didn't hear what was said on the phone.

"It's Mr. Wang from Beijing Film Studio who asked me to make a movie."

Zhang Lai looked at Xiao Song Jia, excitedly finished speaking, then glanced at the time; it was already 10:30 AM: "No, I need to pack up first, I have to leave."

It seems there's still time; there are two and a half hours left.

However, even though it's only the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, traffic in Beijing is already starting to get congested.

His home is an hour's drive from the Kyoto Building.

In addition, he can't always arrive right on time.

The current situation is that he needs Beijing Film Studio's resources, but it's not that Beijing Film Studio can't do without him.

"Kyoukage?"

Xiao Songjia's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Anyone in the entertainment industry knows the Kyoto Group.

Jingying is a subsidiary of Kyoto Film Group, responsible for film production. President Wang Mingliang is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry.

"Old Zhang, can I go with you?"

Xiao Songjia glanced at Zhang Lai.

"you?"

Zhang Lai paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and then shook his head in refusal: "I don't know the specifics yet. Let's talk about it when I get back."

If it were anyone else, it wouldn't matter.

However, he didn't know what he would encounter on this trip to Beijing Film Studio, so it was naturally inappropriate to bring Xiao Song Jia along.

"Okay, then I'll wait for you to come home."

As Xiao Songjia spoke, she began to help Zhang Lai with various tasks until she had tidied him up and then saw him out.

"Kyokage..."

Xiao Songjia sat on the sofa, starting to make plans in his mind.

Zhang Lai is a director. If Beijing TV were to approach him, it would probably be for a TV series project. But Beijing Film Studio would likely be looking for film projects.

I wonder if Zhang Lai will be able to get the movie resources.

If we get it...

As Xiao Songjia pondered, her eyes lit up.

"Looks like Old Zhang has potential..."

Song Jia muttered to himself.

Originally, she only intended to use Zhang Lai as a stepping stone, and then kick him away when she no longer needed him.

But if Zhang Lai could really get into Beijing Film Studio and become a film director, then things would be completely different.

With Zhang Lai's resources, she can also enter the film industry.

She has acted in movies, but they were all minor roles, such as Li Ji in "Red Cliff".

"Looks like I'll have to prepare for both possibilities tonight..."

Xiao Songjia's heart stirred, and he began to plan how to win over Zhang Lai that night.

……

Meanwhile, Zhang Lai arrived at the Kyoto Building at 12:30.

"Phew, thank goodness I got out early!"

Zhang Lai breathed a sigh of relief as he got off the bus.

Who would have thought that he would encounter a traffic jam on his way here, caused by a traffic accident ahead? Otherwise, he could have arrived much earlier.

Luckily, he left early; otherwise, if he had been calculating the time at home, he would definitely have been late.