Huayu Tianxian: This director is such a hypocrite!

Time flew by and it was January 13, 2004.

In these ten days, Ye Chong and Chen Zhixi traveled around and accomplished three major tasks.

First: Feiye Studio has completed all the procedures and officially started operations.

The studio was located on the third floor of an office building near Chaoyang Park.

Second: The rough cut of "May Love" is complete. We just need to go to China Film Group two or three more times.

China Film Group was never confident in Ye Chong's abilities; they said he was there for editing, but it was really just a formality.

3. The project proposal for "The Nameless" has been submitted for review.

At 2 PM, downstairs at the broadcasting building, Ye Chong waited and waited, and finally the figure appeared.

"Have you seen Director Tong?"

Chen Zhixi rolled her eyes at him and silently got into the driver's seat.

"Since you're so curious, why don't you go up and deliver the notebook yourself?"

Ye Chong raised his finger and pointed to his philtrum.

"A young man with no experience is unreliable, and besides, you're the producer, the boss of the crew."

"Come on."

Chen Zhixi started the car, stepped on the gas, and the car sped toward the main road.

"This is my first time producing a film, and there are many things I don't understand. We'll have to come back in a couple of days to submit something else."

"What?"

"Proof of funds! The project proposal must include proof of at least 30% of the total investment, regardless of the source. You need to prove you have the funds to make the film."

Ye Chong's expression froze.

He really didn't know this thing existed. Isn't it enough to just finish the script and storyboard and send it over?

The total cost of "The Unknown" has been calculated, and it is approximately 400 million RMB. This is the cost after excluding the director and producer.

The budget includes: actor salaries to be kept under 150 million, production costs to be 200 million, post-production costs to be 30, with 20 reserved, and the final publicity and distribution to be handled by China Film Group.

Even in 04, the publicity and distribution costs were often in the millions. The cost was too high. It was better to give it to China Film Group. The publicity and distribution could be treated as an investment share. At worst, we would lose some money, but we could still sell it to China Film Group in a good way.

"Thirty percent of four million means we need to raise 1.2 million?"

"Why don't you just withdraw your money from the stock market?"

Goodbye!

Ye Chong let out a long sigh, never expecting that preparing a movie would be so complicated.

Yes, he has enough money to withdraw from the stock market.

But what if he were to sell all the shares he bought?

impossible!

Before 2010, the prices of Moutai and Shandong Gold changed every year. If you withdrew from the market midway, the price would not be the same when you bought them again. Ye Chong would rather go home and beg his father.

"By the way, you also need to go to China Film Group. We need to resolve the issue of including marketing and distribution costs in the investment share as soon as possible."

"How about we bring some more people in?"

Chen Zhixi glanced at him: "You're willing to give that up? Do you have the connections?"

That's true! It's hard to believe that an unknown 19-year-old director could attract investment!

Moreover, since it's just a studio right now, he wants to take advantage of the fact that others haven't paid attention to him yet and enjoy the benefits all to himself.

"Oh right, you know Chairman Liu of Hairun, right?"

"That doesn't count; it was a one-time transaction."

Chen Zhixi nodded, assuming it was because of a favor.

Sometimes, favors aren't necessarily direct exchanges; the interests involved can be quite complex, and the relationship might pass through several people.

"arrive!"

The vehicle slowly came to a stop near Anyuan in Anhui Beili.

When the two got out of the car, they looked at the tall buildings and logos in front of them and felt a sense of longing.

"Is this the Hairun Building?"

"Let's go, Chongdi, we'll have this in the future too."

"Uh...uh..."

The two walked towards the building, passed through the lobby, went through the information gate, and finally arrived at the 6th floor.

"Knock knock knock—"

"Enter!"

The two pushed open the door and entered, immediately spotting the middle-aged man sitting in the boss's chair.

"Mr. Liu."

Liu Yanming was processing documents when he saw the two of them, and his fat face trembled.

He never expected that the boss he had been in contact with was a young man.

In the spacious office, Liu Yanming led Ye Chong and the other person to sit on the sofa, and then asked his secretary to bring three cups of hot coffee before turning to look at the two of them.

"Ye Chong from Feiye Studio"

"Chen Zhixi".

Liu Yanming shook hands with Chen Zhixi in front of her, smiled and nodded: "I know you, 'Walking Out of the Blue River,' a real star! You acted really well."

"You're too kind."

Liu Yanming turned her gaze to Ye Chong, but before the latter could speak, Chen Zhixi raised his hand and began his introduction.

"This is Ye Chong, a student from the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy, class of 02. He just finished directing the film 'May Love' for China Film Group last month."

"Oh?"

Liu Yanming reached out her hand past Chen Zhixi: "I always thought President Ye was a big boss, I never imagined he was so young, and a top student from the Beijing Film Academy?"

Ye Chong smiled and shook Liu Yanming's large hand: "Chairman Liu is joking. Aren't Yu Dong and Wu Hongliang also graduates of Beijing Film Academy? As you know, it's a tradition at Beijing Film Academy to have side businesses."

"Hehehe, Mr. Ye's way of putting it is quite interesting."

Yu Dong and Wu Hongliang both graduated from the Beijing Film Academy's School of Management. One of them founded Bona Film Group, and the other became the director of the film and television department at China Film Group Corporation. This can hardly be considered a side business.

In comparison, the excessively young CEO Ye in front of us is truly a remarkable person.

From the seating arrangement upon entering to Chen Zhixi's attitude, the dominant position of the two was subtly revealed.

And to direct a movie all by himself at such a young age, he must have a good background!

"Mr. Ye, are you here today about investment?"

Ye Chong caught a glimpse of the subtle expression on Liu Yanming's face out of the corner of his eye, as if she had something difficult to say.

"Yes, what did Chairman Liu say?"

Ye Chong was very direct; since the system had tampered with it, there was no need to hide it.

"Oh, this investment has run into a small problem."

Liu Yanming was in low spirits, and Ye Chong's heart skipped a beat.

Things produced by the system shouldn't have any unexpected problems, right?

"The East Shanghai branch is planning to withdraw its investment, and now we're stuck with a huge chunk of it!"

"Oh?" Ye Chong's heart skipped a beat.

If there's a lack of investors, wouldn't they be able to earn even more? Or rather, is that where his investment share comes from?

"How much can you give?"

Liu Yanming's gaze was deep and he didn't reply immediately. He picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip.

"Director Yip's salary..."

So that's where it was!

Ye Chong took a deep breath and guessed the general idea: the reason why "Bright Sword" was initiated 2000 years ago but has been delayed until now is due to insufficient funding.

After all, the market for military-themed films has not yet taken off, so who would dare to spend millions to invest in a military film?

"I won't play games with Chairman Liu."

"Okay, go ahead."

Ye Chong slowly raised his right hand and made a "two" sign.

"Two hundred thousand?"

"Converted to the investment share."

"No problem!" Liu Yanming agreed readily.

Seeing the other person's eyes light up, Ye Chong immediately reached out his hand, as if afraid that Ye Chong would regret it.

Oh no! We ordered too few!

"Hehe, Mr. Ye, we can discuss the share now."

Having settled the director's fee, the group pulled out their documents and began negotiations, armed to the teeth.

半小时后，双方初步达成共识：海润350万（35%）、飞叶工作室250万（25%）、上影集团250万（25%）、瀋阳军区150万（15%）。

In reality, it simply replaced 25% of East Shanghai.

The total cost is ten million. The crew will join in August and filming will begin at the end of the year.

"230 million..."

On the elevator going downstairs, the siblings were both somewhat silent.

Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still quite shocked by the number.

"What do we do? My rich second-generation brother?"

"Not your brother anymore?"

Chen Zhixi gave him a dirty look.

"I don't have time to joke with you right now. The studio only has 200,000 yuan in operating funds. Three months ago, we also had to raise 4 million yuan for 'The Unknown' and 6.3 million yuan. I can only give you a small fraction of that amount."

"So, to see this through to the end, how about 130 million?"

"Me!" Chen Zhixi raised her handbag as if to hit him, then paused and put it down again.

"You need to raise 500 million by March!"

"500 million..."

Silence fell over the elevator once again.

"bite--"

The elevator doors opened, and Ye Chong sighed and looked up.

"Looks like I'll have to use my ultimate move!"