Huayu: Just started as a stagehand, but the director's comeback system

The Berlin Film Festival opened on February 10th, and that evening Jiang Huai and his group rushed to Germany.

"Brother Huai, the weather here is pretty much the same as in the capital."

Ning Hao had heard from others that it was hotter in Europe than in Asia, so he didn't bring many warm clothes with him this time.

But when he got off the plane and saw those foreigners wrapped up in down jackets, he knew he had been tricked.

"I told you but you didn't believe me. But you'll be wearing a suit anyway, so there's not much difference. Let's go try this German sauerkraut first and see if it's authentic."

While still on the plane, Jiang Huai looked at the brochure in his hand, and the food section made him feel like he was back in his hometown in Northeast China.

Led by a local guide, Jiang Huai and his group arrived at a restaurant with a history of nearly a century.

The tour guide booked a private room on the second floor for the group. They could hear soothing piano music playing outside, but they couldn't understand it. Although it was pleasant to listen to, it didn't really match the menu.

Each dish on the menu has an illustration. Just by changing the English name of this pickled cabbage and blood sausage, and replacing the blood sausage with a regular sausage, the price can increase so much.

This one, this one, and this one.

"German-style sauerkraut and blood sausage, braised pork knuckle, and dumpling soup."

"Okay, Mr. Jiang, is there anything else you need?"

After watching Jiang Huai select the dishes, the tour guide, as usual, asked him what kind of music he liked.

"Hmm, let's go with Northeast China."

"Yes, Mr. Jiang, Berlin is located in northeastern Germany."

"Yes, I understand."

In this situation, only this song could truly express Jiang Huai's feelings, but unfortunately the tour guide didn't heed Jiang Huai's meaning.

Then we can only settle for second best and listen to northeastern German music.

German music lacks the passionate emotion of music from China, but the sauerkraut is a bit more sour.

Jiang Huai's assessment of this meal was that his childhood friend, with whom he had grown up naked, became his blind date in Thailand.

A bizarre absurdity.

After dinner, the group went straight back to the hotel. Being unfamiliar with the area, they decided not to linger in the night.

On the second day of the Berlin Film Festival, Jiang Huai and his colleagues arrived at their designated exhibition hall, guided by staff.

The Berlin Film Festival gave the crew, who received three major nominations and are said to be Zhang Yimou's protégés, one of the best seats.

The first person Jiang Huai spoke to here was not one of the greedy investors like himself, but his nominal senior martial uncle, Gu Changwei.

When Jiang Huai saw that the other party had taken the initiative to talk to him, he immediately ran over to greet them.

The two last met on the set of Zhang Yimou's "House of Flying Daggers," not too long ago, but they met again at one of the three major European film festivals.

Gu Changwei took Zhang Jing, the female lead of Peacock, to Berlin a few days ago. After arriving, he did not pay attention to things in China, so he did not receive the news that Jiang Huai had received three nominations.

At the opening ceremony of the film festival yesterday, when he learned of this news, he didn't even place his hand on Zhang Jingchu's waist as usual.

He had praised Jiang Huai on the set of "House of Flying Daggers" and said that he was sure to be successful in the future, but this future is too close, and this promise is too much.

"How is Professor Gu's health lately?"

Jiang Huai pretended not to see Zhang Jingchu in front of him and only greeted Gu Changwei separately.

It wasn't that he looked down on people, but the other person's chest was pressed against Gu Changwei's arm, and the intention to declare their relationship was too obvious. He didn't know how to address the other person.

Although Jiang Wenli wasn't here, Jiang Huai couldn't very well address Zhang Jingchu as his "aunt," but addressing her as anything higher would be beneath him, while addressing her as anything lower would be beneath Gu Changwei. Therefore, ignoring her was the best course of action.

"That's great. I never expected to see you here again. A hero emerges from among the young."

While chatting with Jiang Huai, Gu Changwei also felt the force in his arm increase, but he didn't pay attention to it. He and his wife Jiang Wenli had been estranged for many years.

Gu Changwei has long been open about having intimate contact with young women in the industry. As long as it doesn't get to Jiang Wenli's head, she will pretend she knows nothing.

"You're exaggerating, Teacher Gu. I learned a lot from you on set."

"That would be my honor. Let me see this masterpiece, Black Coal, Thin Ice."

"Please, Teacher Gu."

With Jiang Huai leading the way, the two went directly into the screening room of Daylight Fireworks, where some interested businessmen were already waiting.

Although Jiang Huai believed that Ning Hao would never discuss the price with them, he still decided to meet the group of street lamp decorations in person.

After settling Gu Changwei and Ning Hao in, Jiang Huai and Ning Hao switched jobs.

No matter how high the price offered by these people present today, Jianghuai will not agree to the deal.

His hope this time was that someone could secure the exclusive European rights to the Daytime Fireworks award. Once the Golden Bear winners were announced, Jiang Huai believed that if the Daytime Fireworks award did win, people would flock to it.

Even if they ultimately miss out, it's just a matter of selling the copyright for "Daylight Fireworks" to a few more companies. You make money no matter how you sell something that has no cost.

With this in mind, Jiang Huai spoke very casually with these merchants.

Negotiation skills and the like were all thrown to the back of their minds.

You said I'm still too young, and you're right, but we can't talk about price now.

You're right that this movie doesn't fit the European market, but we still can't negotiate the price.

Despite this misunderstanding, the Daytime Fireworks Showcase was screened for the first time in Berlin.

The film's plot doesn't involve overly complex narrative shots. Apart from the occasional dark humor, everything is presented in a straightforward manner, but its strength lies in its excellent story.

After watching the movie, those present stopped chatting idly with Jiang Huai and began to record every detail with their minds and pens.

One million euros is their assessment of the daytime fireworks; considering the hype surrounding the three nominations, perhaps they could add another 500,000.

Of course, this is just the current result; if it wins an award later, this number will double.

It's a pity that this director from China doesn't want to talk to them right now. The downside of being young is that he's too confident and has too much faith in his own work.

But this is also an advantage for this young man. Every master thinks his work is the best in the world, and perhaps a company will invest in his future in advance.

Thinking of this, the businessmen exchanged glances after the movie ended, their eyes filled with caution. None of them chose to follow Jiang Huai's wishes, and they all got up and left without saying anything more.

The first batch, the second batch... the group of businessmen who came today all made the same choice.

However, there are still quite a few more contact methods available on JAC phones.

During the day, I felt that the future was too far away for me to see clearly. I didn't know if these people would have different opinions by nightfall, so Jiang Huai agreed to let everyone exchange contact information privately.

Jianghuai's first day at the Berlin Film Festival passed just like that, no different from shopping in a mall in China.

Haggling with a group of businessmen, with the occasional invited journalists or actors, they're just there to create atmosphere.

That evening, Jiang Huai took Ning Hao and Guo Fan to dinner with Gu Changwei.

The location was a Western restaurant recommended by Gu Changwei. Jiang Huai thought that Gu Changwei had arrived in Berlin earlier and must have already learned from their mistakes, so he didn't question it at all.

The advantage of a Western restaurant is that when you don't feel like talking, you can simply look down and cut the steak in front of you.

Maintaining the same attitude as during the day, Jiang Huai continued to give selective answers to Zhang Jing.

When asked trivial, pointless questions, Jiang Huai would occasionally chime in with a few words, but once the topic turned to relationships, he would immediately start working on his steak.

To be honest, Jiang Huai didn't dislike Zhang Jingchu, after all, he wasn't a good person either.

But since his values ​​don't align with hers, Jiang Huai can allow his girlfriend to pursue money and fame, but he will never allow her to use this opportunity to climb the social ladder.

In the entertainment industry, marriage is about binding the interests of two people together, and he would never allow himself to have interests that he cannot control over.

During this perfunctory dinner, Jiang Huai's phone was the first to ring.

The caller was one of the businessmen from the daytime. Jiang Huai did not choose to avoid Gu Changwei and Zhang Jing, who were present, even though the two of them would only help him raise prices if they leaked the contents of the call.

"Hello Mr. Jiang, I'm the copyright manager at Warner Bros. Would it be convenient for us to speak now?"

When faced with a profitable business opportunity, a good businessman will pay attention to all the details.

After the English voice on the other end of the phone from Warner Bros. finished speaking, a clear and distinct Northeastern Chinese translator immediately followed, as if afraid that Jiang Huai might misunderstand a single word.

"Of course, but I don't know how to address you?"

"You can call me Jin Hui, I really like this Chinese name."

"Okay, Mr. Kim, we can begin our discussion."

In Warner Bros.' office building in Germany, Smith Louis, who called himself Jin Hui, pointed to the contract in front of him, adjusted his voice, and began to give a passionate speech to Jiang Huai.

"Mr. Jiang, Warner Bros. sees the shadow of those masters of the past in you, so we are willing to pay for your future in advance."

"We're willing to guarantee you a minimum of three million euros for the exclusive rights to 'Black Coal, Thin Ice,' and for every award it wins at the Berlin Film Festival, we'll add another million."

After the translator beside him stopped speaking, Louis crossed his legs.

Although he didn't mention those additional conditions in order to get Jiang Huai to be interested in talking, even with them, it would still be a contract that was well worth the price.

He didn't believe that any company in Berlin could offer a higher price.

"Thank you for your kindness, Warner Bros., but unfortunately there are still some disagreements within my team. Perhaps we can discuss this further later."

Extending his own experience to others, Jiang Huai believes that kind-hearted people cannot survive in the entertainment industry, let alone a top company like Warner Bros.

The other party might have planted a few seemingly insignificant pitfalls in the contract, which, if overlooked by the lawyer, could siphon off a significant portion of his future profits.

Therefore, even though the three million euro guarantee was tempting to Jiang Huai, he still did not show any intention to talk to him.

Fearing he might not be able to maintain his composure, Jiang Huai decisively hung up the phone after refusing, giving the other party no chance to speak.

"Teacher Gu, please continue eating. Don't worry about me."

After putting down his phone, Jiang Huai noticed that several people around him were looking at him, so he quickly started to continue the dinner that was not yet over.

"Okay, Jiang Huai, you will face many challenges in the future, so you must maintain this composure."

The voice coming from Jiang Huai on the phone reached Gu Changwei's ears clearly.

He almost couldn't resist at that moment. The minimum was three million, and then they added euros. If it were me, I would have agreed.

However, after Jiang Huai refused, Gu Changwei still managed to control his emotions and continue to maintain his demeanor as an elder.

Although both he and Jiang Huai started as directors in 2003, Jiang Huai has more experience with two more films and has achieved greater success as a director.

But the seniority must not be messed up. Gu Changwei must maintain his seniority, otherwise he would have to call Jiang Huai "senior".

"Teacher Gu is right. We will still need to rely on you elders to take care of us in the future."

Jiang Huai knew that Gu Changwei hadn't grasped the intricacies of the situation, after all, he was a photographer by training, not a street lamp holder.

However, as a veteran in the industry, the other party has connections that Jianghuai currently lacks.

Therefore, when he heard the other party's instruction to shoot the arrow first and then draw the target, Jiang Huai still showed enough respect. As long as there was profit to be made, he would be the most humble student.

Not long after I listened to Gu Changwei's teachings, a second phone call came in quick succession.

Paramount Pictures remains one of the world's top-tier film studios.

"Mr. Jiang, we at Paramount are going all in on your future, offering three million euros to buy your 'Black Coal, Thin Ice' script."

Paramount only asked for your right of first refusal to purchase the rights to the next three films; there were no other conditions.

To demonstrate their difference from their poor European counterparts, the two Hollywood companies offered the same high price: three million euros, which sounded very sincere on the phone.

Jiang Huai didn't agree this time either. These copyright managers were all top-notch at avoiding the important issues. Unless the other party brought him a contract with a stamp, he wouldn't believe a word of it.

But this time, when Jiang Huai hung up the phone, Gu Changwei's forced expression crumbled.

"Xiao Jiang, it's true that you need to stay focused, but you also need to choose the right moment."

Gu Changwei could understand Jiang Huai's rejection of Warner Bros., as their explanation was too vague and left too many loopholes.

But this time Paramount presented its full terms and offered the same three million, yet Jiang Huai still refused. That wasn't just being cautious; it was being overly ambitious.

He didn't know the exact amount invested in "Black Coal, Thin Ice," but the maximum investment for an art film was only around ten million.

Selling the rights for three million euros is enough to celebrate the film breaking even.

"Professor Gu, capital is not friendly to anyone."

Everyone has some innate talent. Jiang Huai once thought his talent lay in directing and photography, but now he realizes that his talent lies in streetlights.

Since founding Yihuai Media, Jiang Huai has tried countless times to bring his talents to the financial world, but unfortunately his core business is the film and television industry. Both are ruthless places, and this place is safer.

"Then you're not afraid they won't buy your script."

Gu Changwei didn't understand how capital worked, but he knew that even a rabbit would fight back if it was being manipulated.

How could the top companies in the entertainment industry allow Jiang Huai to haggle like this? If he were to overestimate his abilities, wouldn't he end up losing money or even gaining nothing?

"Teacher Gu, someone will always recognize its value."

Jiang Huai looked at the starlight outside the window, as if the stars only appeared here, and humanity would fearlessly yearn for space.

Capital is not much different either.