Chapter 959: Precautions

To be fair, Lu Yanhe had indeed realized that for the past few years, the focus of his projects had been mostly overseas, and he hadn't written a good script for Linghe itself in a long time.

The last one was *Love is Not Blind*.

The last one to achieve massive box office success was *The Classic*.

Linghe's performance this year had actually been quite good.

But if you didn't count *Home Alone 4* and those overseas projects of Lu Yanhe's, in reality, the box office results of the film projects controlled by Linghe itself were only in the low hundreds of millions—not "blockbuster" enough, not significant enough.

Even though it always released profit reports, to the general public, the box office of these films was just a little lacking.

However, asking Lu Yanhe to write a script that could be finished within a month in one go, and one that could catch the Spring Festival slot, was truly a headache and very difficult.

Of course, there had been such films in history.

For example, the famous *The Eagle Shooting Heroes*.

But could a film like that be replicated?

Probably not, right?

"Can't we catch up with the spin-off film for *Seventeen Layers* either?"

"We can't."

"Then forget it, let's give up." Lu Yanhe shook his head. "Don't disrupt our normal production rhythm just because of one Spring Festival slot. We don't have to eat every piece of fat meat."

Chen Yin sighed.

"Alright."

Chen Yin said again, "However, Mr. Lu, we really need to make some plans for our upcoming filming; we can't keep missing such slots in vain. It's too much of a pity. Although I understand that you don't want Linghe's focus to be entirely on producing blockbusters, and you hope to unearth genre films like *Corpse Phase* and *Horror at Summer Night Villa*, producing blockbusters doesn't conflict with us unearthing these genre films."

"It does conflict." Lu Yanhe said very directly, "Producing a blockbuster requires the input of almost all of a company's strength. Up until now, Linghe has never truly independently produced a blockbuster. The production scale of a real blockbuster is a magnitude that our current projects cannot match. If we were to produce *Men in Black* ourselves, how much money do you think it would cost? Not counting my script fee, the production of *Men in Black* cost nearly 100 million USD, and that doesn't include the post-production promotion budget. Does Linghe have a production system like Soren? No. This means costs would increase even further. If we were to make a *Men in Black*, a single film, we would have to invest eight or nine hundred million; and that's a conservative estimate. If we follow a 1:1 ratio for promotion and production, that's over a billion. The cash flow on the company's books would be dragged down by this project in one go. By that time, would the company still have the energy to unearth other things?"

Chen Yin fell silent.

Lu Yanhe said, "Linghe is currently walking a very steady path that is conducive to long-term development. While this current way of developing cannot occupy the market in a planned manner like those big Hollywood companies, we can truly solidify our content library. When our copyright library becomes increasingly abundant, and when our production teams become more numerous, we will have a steady stream of good scripts to develop, and we will have ample cash flow to support our operations. It won't be too late to consider blockbusters then. Blockbusters will always exist, but film companies that are steady and have strong endurance are always extremely rare."

After saying this, Lu Yanhe then said, "Of course, I support you in making a plan for the company. What films can be released at each node—don't waste this slot. What you said makes a lot of sense. This point is my fault; you told me about it a long time ago and urged me several times, but I really didn't have a good script to bring out."

"Chen Yin is using the Spring Festival slot as an excuse to want to develop big productions." After hearing Lu Yanhe finish talking about this matter, Chen Ziyan immediately understood.

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"Yeah."

Chen Ziyan: "However, it is normal for him to have such thoughts. After these years of development, Linghe indeed possesses the foundation to develop big productions now."

"But we don't have the strength to withstand the failure of a big production," Lu Yanhe said. "It's very easy to never recover."

Chen Ziyan: "Indeed, under the halo of your success, it seems everyone thinks that as long as it's your project, at most we earn a little less, but it will definitely not fail."

"But that's not right," Lu Yanhe said. "I will always have a day where I fail."

He would have a day when his script library ran out.

Ten years from now, twenty years from now, or even fifty years from now?

Why did he support *Corpse Phase* and *Horror at Summer Night Villa* so much?

Why did he even encourage Chen Yin to make another *Childhood is an Adventure on a Summer Night*?

Why did he support Wu Chi in filming *Oh My Sea*?

He had been preparing for the future all along.

One day, his golden finger would fail.

By that time, there would ultimately have to be his own vitality.

Lu Yanhe had always hoped that Chen Yin would truly stand on his own.

Since he could make *Corpse Phase* and *Horror at Summer Night Villa*, why couldn't he make a film that could conquer the Spring Festival slot himself?

Linghe was already fully capable of doing so.

Once he relied on those Hollywood projects to establish the overseas network, this set of things could also be applied overseas.

If they could only rely on him, Linghe would always have a day of collapse.

Lu Yanhe believed this from the bottom of his heart.

Chen Ziyan looked at Lu Yanhe with some doubt.

"Yan He, is it my illusion? Why do I feel like you... are a bit too worried about your talent—"

Chen Ziyan pondered for two seconds before continuing.

"Will disappear one day."

Sharp Chen Ziyan.

Lu Yanhe took a deep breath.

She could always, at such times, use a talent-like intuition to capture the truth hidden beneath all his appearances.

"Yes." Lu Yanhe nodded. "Because it is destined to disappear."

He didn't give any objective explanation, but instead chose a way that everyone would accept.

"Because without exception, no one can be a genius for a lifetime." Lu Yanhe said, "I am talking about this kind of genius in content creation."

"I accept it." Chen Ziyan nodded. "I also understand, but I always feel that this is not the same thing. What you are talking about is an objective reality that must be accepted, while what I feel in you is an irresistible sense of destiny with a tragic color."

Lu Yanhe: "Both of these exist in me."

"But you are not a pessimist, Yan He, you are not." Chen Ziyan said decisively. "However, no matter what, what you said is right, I support you."

This was also the Chen Ziyan that Lu Yanhe was most familiar with.

No matter what, she stood behind him.

Supporting him.

Throughout October, besides going to record the final stage of this season of *Young Days*, Lu Yanhe buried his head in continuing to work on scripts.

After all, having promised so many projects on Weibo in one go, if he didn't get them off the ground as soon as possible, it would look like he was just painting a big picture.

And this October, besides *Horror at Summer Night Villa 2*, *Seventeen Layers: The Enlightener* starring Jiang Jun and *The Fault in Our Stars* starring Li Yuefeng and Yan Lingyu also officially started filming.

The spin-off film of *The Gold Rush* starring Li Zhibai and Yan Liang was announced for the Spring Festival slot.

D19 announced the start of production for *The Mist 3*, and Lu Yanhe confirmed his return to star. The next day, *Variety* reported that Lu Yanhe had once again received a salary of 20 million USD for *The Mist 2*, plus a 5% global box office share—not a profit share, but a 5% share taken directly from the box office.

This figure once again refreshed Lu Yanhe's salary record in Hollywood. At the same time, Soren announced that *Men in Black* was set for October 12th next year, becoming the only blockbuster currently announced for that slot next year.

As the distributor of *Men in Black* in China, Linghe followed closely and announced that *Men in Black* was set for the National Day slot on October 1st next year, released 12 days earlier than overseas.

Almost every day there was new news related to Lu Yanhe.

By the end of October, Linghe also announced information on two projects.

One was that the four-episode short drama *Oh My Sea* would start filming in January next year. This boutique short drama adapted from the film of the same name would be directed by Li Chao, a disciple of director Wu Chi, and the male and female leads would be played by Jiang Ting and Zou Xuan, who became famous overnight in *Horror at Summer Night Villa* last year.

The second was *Prison Break*, with a script written by Lu Yanhe. The first season was finally confirmed to be 6 episodes, also to start filming in Thailand in January next year.

Both of these works were projects that would be launched and broadcast on Linghe Theater.

Because there were requirements for the broadcast time, the pressure on the construction period was relatively high, and these two works were currently the easiest to complete.

And *Corpse Phase 3* would also start filming after *The Fault in Our Stars* wrapped up—

Purely to wait for Li Yuefeng's schedule.

The script for *Corpse Phase 4* was already being written by a screenwriter.

It looked like a scene of prosperity.

On the last day of October, Chen Yin brought three scripts to Lu Yanhe and said, "Mr. Lu, these three scripts are projects I have selected that can be produced for the family-friendly slot. Please take some time to look at them."

One look—

One was a road comedy film similar to *Lost on Journey*, but the main thread was several people who had been scammed trying to find the scammer. The whole process was crazier, and it also involved some thriller and crime elements.

Very engaging.

The name was *Crazy People on the Road*.

Another was a campus youth hot-blooded comedy, telling the story of several young students who, in order to prove they were not losers, formed a study mutual aid group, tried ways to improve their grades, faced the dean who discriminated against them, the top students who mocked them, and the parents who didn't believe in them, and "broke through the barriers" all the way. It had a very manga style, but the main thread was clearer than *Oh My Sea*, and the rhythm was more tense. In short, it was more commercial.

The name was *Counterattack from the Bottom*.

Looking at this script, it actually made Lu Yanhe suddenly think of the film *Flying Colors*.

Although it was not the same thing at all, it had similarities.

The last one was a script similar to *Home Alone*, which looked like it was tailored for Huang Feng at first glance.

*Young Detective*. It told the story of a middle school student who was dragged into a murder case by his police uncle, was kidnapped by the murderer because he discovered the murderer's tracks, and finally, relying on his own wisdom, became the "Kindaichi" of this space-time—a crime comedy story.

Vaguely, there was a shadow of *Detective Chinatown*.

Hmm, when Huang Feng grew up a few more years, he could play *Detective Chinatown*. By that time, Wang Zhong's age would be about right to play Tang Ren.

"..."

Lu Yanhe finished reading the three scripts in one go.

"I like all three scripts very much." Lu Yanhe said bluntly. "Let's shoot them."

Chen Yin was extremely surprised.

In the past, Lu Yanhe was actually quite straightforward when giving opinions after reading scripts, but never this straightforward—

Not asking a single question.

Directly saying "Let's shoot them."

Chen Yin was extremely surprised.

"Shoot all of them?"

"Shoot all of them."

Chen Yin looked hesitant, struggled for a moment, and still said, "But, the costs of these three scripts will be slightly higher. We can't control them like *Summer Night* and *Corpse Phase* anymore."

Lu Yanhe said, "Production costs within 100 million are all doable. I think these three scripts all have a certain commercial market. With you at the helm, I don't worry about this point."

Chen Yin let out a long sigh.

"Okay, I will make the specific production budget and then ask you to review it."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

"This is your most unique ability, Mr. Chen. In this world, there are not many film executives who can helm big productions, but those who can dig valuable scripts out of a massive pile of scripts like you are extremely rare." Lu Yanhe said, "The scripts you dig out always combine genre, commerce, and a certain expression very well. This is what I like the most."

Chen Yin was suddenly praised like this by Lu Yanhe and felt a bit embarrassed.

Lu Yanhe, however, showed him a very encouraging smile.

"Wan Qingqing also brought me a script, take a look." Lu Yanhe said.

Previously, he had promised Wan Qingqing permission for a production budget of within 20 million USD.

This was a reward for her successfully breaking into the market in Hollywood single-handedly with *Flypaper*.

What Lu Yanhe didn't expect was that after Wan Qingqing brought a few more scripts similar to *Flypaper* and they were killed by Lu Yanhe, the script she brought this time ushered in a 180-degree turn.

So, Lu Yanhe didn't make up his mind for a moment.

"What script?" Chen Yin was a bit surprised.

"An English script, telling the story of a woman who accidentally inherits her dead husband's property, only to discover that this husband has an illegitimate child. After this illegitimate child comes to the door to demand the property, they accidentally spark a romance, and then a series of melodramatic plot developments follow. Just when the woman is about to fall in love with him, she accidentally discovers that this so-called illegitimate child is just a scammer who wants to cheat money. So, she plays along and instead sends this scammer to prison, keeping her property."

"Uh—" Chen Yin's first reaction was surprise. "This plot—"

"Hmm, too melodramatic." Lu Yanhe said, "But in a sense, it is also very attractive." ===== CHAPTER 960 =====