Chapter 238

These days the policy on private‑registered companies hasn't been loosened yet, and private film‑and‑television companies don't exist at all.

Therefore, Xu Yuexin has never even entertained the idea of investing in film production in recent years.

Unexpectedly, Hengguang Production Company took the initiative to send him an invitation.

"Hey, Comrade Xu, the 50‑50 split I mentioned earlier was just an example."

"If you're under financial pressure, you can contribute less."

On the phone, Chen Lin, seeing that he hadn't responded, immediately added.

Beside them, Qiao Qiao and Chen Yixue also turned their gaze toward Xu Yuexin.

Invest in making a movie? Qiao Qiao and Chen Yixue have never thought of such a thing.

At the same time, they are also very interested in it.

Making a good movie can bring huge fame, and also earn a lot of money.

For example, the previous Lushan Love grossed over 100 million yuan in its first week of release.

The two sisters were shocked by that figure for a long time.

Now that they hear someone inviting Xu Yuexin to make a film, Qiao Qiao and Chen Yixue both find it novel and are curious about how Xu Yuexin will respond.

"No problem, I have no financial pressure."

Beside the nightstand, Xu Yuexin, holding a microphone, said to Chen Lin, "The New Year is approaching, so I wish you a happy New Year in advance."

"After the New Year passes, we'll discuss the drama production face‑to‑face."

The 1987 version of Dream of Red Mansions had a total investment of 6.8 million yuan, and today's price level is much lower than back then.

Xu Yuexin currently has one million yuan on hand and can also transfer money from Xiangjiang, which is enough to produce a TV drama.

"Alright, Happy New Year."

"Hope our post‑New‑Year negotiations go smoothly."

Seeing Xu Yuexin agree, Chen Lin felt a weight lift from his heart and said in a bright voice,

"Mm, hope it goes smoothly."

Xu Yuexin hung up the phone and looked at the sisters Qiao Qiao and Chen Yixue in the bedroom.

"I have a flower on my face."

Xu Yuexin laughed.

Even during the earlier call, Xu Yuexin felt his daughter‑in‑law and Da Yizi staring at him.

But at that moment he couldn't spare a response.

"Now you're about to make a film, and you still won't let us see you a couple of times?"

Qiao Qiao stepped forward, slipped her arm around Xu Yuexin, and excitedly asked, "Which production company contacted you just now?"

"The Hengguang Production Company in Hu Hai."

Xu Yuexin said, "Have you heard of it?"

"I've heard the name; I've seen the movies they've made."

Qiao Qiao pulled Xu Yuexin to sit beside her and her sister, and asked, "Did they reach out to you first?"

"Yes, the Letter was signed by Xue Xue."

"I plan to follow what was said on the phone and talk to them after the New Year."

"Mm, if it goes through, remember to tell me right away."

Qiao Qiao shook Xu Yuexin's arm and said,

"Don't worry, you'll be the first I tell, and Xue Xue as well."

Xu Yuexin looked at Da Yizi and said,

Da Yizi smiled faintly without replying.

Being called by Xue Xue's nickname in front of her sister made her feel rather uneasy inside.

However, it wasn't uncomfortable; on the contrary, it warmed Da Yizi's heart, giving her a feeling of being cared for and protected.

…

The New Year arrives slowly and departs quickly.

Before long, it was the sixth day of the New Year.

Xu Yuexin boarded a train heading to Hu Hai.

Now ordinary people can purchase Hard Sleeper tickets without connections, but Soft Sleeper tickets are still unavailable and still require a certain rank to buy.

As for the exact opening time, it won't be until the early 1990s.

After arriving in Hu Hai, Xu Yuexin booked a hotel room, dropped off his luggage, and headed straight to Hengguang Production Company.

Hengguang Production Company is located in Xu Hui Qu; upon arrival, Xu Yuexin saw bustling markets and shops everywhere, a scene of thriving prosperity.

Among all the buildings, the tallest was the office tower of Hengguang Production Company.

Xu Yuexin walked to the gate of the production company, explained his purpose to the guard, and the guard immediately led him upstairs.

Chen Lin's office is on the third floor; after Xu Yuexin went up, he saw a door sign reading "Director's Office" in front of a room and knew this was the place.

"Director Chen, I am Xu Yuexin."

Xu Yuexin stepped forward and knocked on the office door.

"Comrade Xu, you're here."

A warm voice came from inside; after a footstep, the office door opened, and a tall, slender middle‑aged man with tea‑colored rim glasses appeared before Xu Yuexin.

"Hello Comrade Xu, welcome from afar to our production company."

"I'm waiting here for you to discuss business."

"Director Chen, shall we discuss it right here?"

Xu Yuexin stepped across the door and asked Chen Lin.

"Hmm, let's talk right here."

Chen Lin poured a cup of tea for Xu Yuexin and sat down opposite him.

Xu Yuexin took the cup, took a sip, and then set it down.

"Director Chen, before we begin negotiations, I'd like to ask you a question."

"Regarding the Gua Kao affiliation and the joint‑production film project, do the leaders of your studio know about it?"

"They do. I raised it with them, and they have already held a meeting and approved it."

"Approved, right? Then may I ask whether a formal document has been produced?"

"There is indeed one."

Chen Lin spread his hands candidly and said, "However, there are many units that currently accept Sole Proprietorship Gua Kao."

"Before you, our studio also accepted several Sole Proprietorship Gua Kao."

"Therefore we think there's no need to create a specific document for this."

"No, having a written document would be more secure."

Xu Yuexin corrected, "After all, other Sole Proprietorships are merely simple affiliations, conducting business unrelated to your studio elsewhere."

"I'm different; I intend to co‑produce a film with you."

"Without the approval of your studio's leadership, I wouldn't dare invest any money."

Chen Lin is a straightforward person, and Xu Yuexin has no intention of being vague with him.

If the terms are settled at the outset, future disputes—especially over profit sharing—can be reduced.

Facing Xu Yuexin's request, Chen Lin thought for a moment and found it somewhat reasonable.

"Your suggestion is important; I'll relay it to the studio leadership later."

"Of course, the studio leadership can't convene a meeting for your matter immediately; if you want a result, you'll have to wait a while longer."

"Hmm, I'm not in a hurry; we can keep talking while we wait for the outcome."

Xu Yuexin said, "If we get a satisfactory result, we'll sign the Contract then."

"That works as well."

"First, let me tell you our plan for the entire TV series."

"As for the film production team, we intend to use our own studio's crew, since we have already produced two historically‑themed TV dramas that received good audience response."

"Although our scale doesn't match Beijing Film Academy or Shanghai Film Studio, we are fully confident in the historical‑drama segment."

"We anticipate an investment range of 1.8 million to start, up to 2.4 million at most."

Chen Lin, while saying this, glanced at Xu Yuexin, hinting at the required funding, and asked, "Do you have any objections to this?"

"I think we could consider adding more budget."

Under Chen Lin's gaze, Xu Yuexin smiled faintly and said, "The work is my child; since it's an adaptation, I naturally want to perfect it."

"More money can raise the quality of the film and TV production." "Hmm? How much additional budget do you think is appropriate?"

"5 million."

Xu Yuexin spread his palm, wiggled his fingers, and said, "To achieve quality, at least this amount is needed."

"No, that's too much."

Chen Lin reflexively refused, "Our production studio can't allocate that much budget to a single TV series."

"That's fine; didn't we agree each side would contribute a portion of the money?"

"At worst, your share is smaller and mine larger."

Xu Yuexin had already prepared and said.

"Our studio's ceiling is 1.5 million; if the budget is raised to 5 million as you suggest, we would only hold a 30 % share."

Chen Lin said, clearly unwilling.

Xu Yuexin would hold 70 %, they 30 %, meaning the production studio would lose control over the entire film.

Chen Lin had never imagined this situation; in his mind, control of the whole TV series should belong to Hengguang.

"What, you can't accept this plan?"

"It's a bit hard to accept."

Chen Lin said bluntly, "Let's lower it; 5 million is too much."

Chen Lin's plan is to cut the budget of "Great Ming 1566", then approach the studio leadership to secure additional funds, thereby ensuring Hengguang's control over the film and TV production.

"It can only be more, not less."

"Put yourself in my shoes: if your work is being adapted for the first time and you have money on hand, you'd certainly want to make a better film and make a big splash."

Xu Yuexin stared at Chen Lin and said.

"But there must be a limit."

"Whether it's limited or not is too abstract. All I know is that throwing money at film and TV has no ceiling."

"Look at some big international productions that readily pour in tens of millions of dollars."

"Director Chen, as a professional film producer, you surely also wish to create works that are unprecedented and unrivaled, don't you?"

Xu Yuexin lifted the corner of his mouth slightly, urging Chen Lin.

Sss…

Chen Lin closed his eyes briefly, and Xu Yuexin's words made him somewhat stirred.

Xu Yuexin was right; any film‑ and TV‑person would certainly hope for an unrestricted budget to produce a perfectly balanced work.

If there were no other considerations, Chen Lin would also want to raise the budget.

But he is still the Production Department Director and must consider the unit's control over the TV series.

That would be far too difficult.

"A thirty‑percent share is still too little."

Chen Lin was struck by Xu Yuexin's words, and frankly opened his heart to him, saying, "I think the factory should at least guarantee a forty‑percent investment proportion."

A forty‑percent investment proportion, of course, cannot guarantee their control over "Great Ming 1566".

But it can at least ensure that their say in the filming process won't be too weak, so they won't be completely led by the nose by Xu Yuexin.

"For this, a forty‑percent share requires two million, and you don't have enough money."

"Then we lower the budget."

Chen Lin gritted his teeth and said resolutely,

"Hey, Director Chen, why are you so fixated on cutting the budget? Can't there be another possibility?"

"What possibility?"

"Go get a loan from the bank."

Xu Yuexin smiled and said, "I guess asking your leaders for an extra 500,000 budget would be quite hard, so just take the funds out from the bank."

"Use this money to fund the shooting."

Xu Yuexin saw that a forty‑percent investment proportion was Chen Lin's, and also the bottom line for Hengguang Production Company.

Since he could not accept a lower budget, a loan naturally became the only option.

"A loan to shoot a film?"

Chen Lin, slightly surprised, said, "There probably isn't any precedent for this!"

"Hey, precedents and the like aren't actually as important as you think."

"When many people walk a path, it naturally becomes a road."

Xu Yuexin urged, "A few years ago private individuals couldn't do business, and now aren't they opening factories and shops one after another, thriving?"

"Take, for example, the historical drama we're filming now; didn't that only develop in recent years?"

As he spoke, Chen Lin listened nearby with puzzlement, his mind constantly churning.

In his view, Xu Yuexin's thinking was quite active, even managing to consider a loan to shoot a TV drama.

But the problem arose: could the leaders agree to a loan for a drama?

Even if the leaders consent, could the bank approve the loan? Chen Lin pondered repeatedly, gradually becoming a bit swayed.

"This... I'll consult the leaders."

Finally, Chen Lin said to Xu Yuexin.

He is not only a film and television professional, but also a Zhengkeji Cadre of a state‑owned production studio.

Some matters, no matter how willing he personally is, must go through superior approval.

"Alright, go consult them, but preferably don't keep me waiting too long."

Xu Yuexin stood up and said, "We had a lot to discuss today, but it seems we should stop here for now."

"Hmm, let's stop here and first resolve the funding source issue before proceeding."

After Chen Lin finished speaking and rose to see him out, as soon as Xu Yuexin left, he went to find the Factory Director to report the filming budget issue.

"What? The budget raised to five million?"

The Factory Director was startled at the number Chen mentioned.

If we really had to shoot with that figure, even selling Hengguang Film Studio wouldn't be enough.

"Right, but Xu Yuexin is willing to contribute sixty percent; we only need to put in forty percent."

"That means we only need to put in two million."

Chen Lin earnestly told the factory leadership, "Regarding this, I think it's not impossible to consider."

"The most important thing for a historical film is its texture, and once the budget rises to five million, I believe the texture of \"Great Ming 1566\" will be unparalleled."

"Two million also won't work. After collective study, the factory can only invest one and a half million."

The Factory Director shook his head repeatedly.

"We could take a loan, then."

"A loan? Are you kidding?"

"Go inquire everywhere in the country where loans for shooting TV dramas exist."

"Then we can start from us."

"Establishing a factory involves production and operation activities; shooting a film is essentially a production and operation activity as well."

"Since opening a factory can get a loan, why can't shooting a film?"

Chen Lin asked, with reason and evidence.

The Factory Director frowned as he listened.

"Little Chen, I know you want to produce a good work, but some things aren't as simple as you think."

"A 500,000 loan to shoot a TV drama—if it makes money, that's fine. If it loses money, who will bear the responsibility?"

"If you're willing to take a loan, then take it yourself."

The Factory Director waved his hand and shifted his gaze aside.

"If I loan, then I loan."

Chen Lin, fired up with passion, shouted, "If the shoot fails, I'll ruin my entire family and guarantee it won't drag the factory down."

The Factory Director looked at him in surprise.

"What a joke. If you dare to loan 500,000, will the bank dare to approve?"

"I'll loan whatever I can; if it's not enough, I'll rally the crew members to loan together."

Chen Lin stood up, brimming with heroic ambition, and said.

(End of chapter)