Chapter 363: Call Me Daddy

Liu Tianxian had been traveling lately, and whenever she was done, she'd go shoot photos for some fashion magazines. Even if she didn't manage her figure, there were naturally people to retouch her into a slim fairy.

She wasn't going out to meet anyone anyway, so taking some photos didn't matter.

As for the uproar online—who was riding her coattails, who was subtly trying to edge in on her, saying things like "if Now You See Me had been given to me to act in, I could have performed better than Liu Tianxian"—

Little essays like these were everywhere online.

Liu Tianxian didn't pay them any mind, and couldn't keep up with them anyway. Let those people be.

After all, people have to eat, stars have to eat, and the people writing little essays have to eat too. It's all for a living.

Being able to create value for people, letting them earn money through her personal ecosystem—she did feel a sense of accomplishment.

Just like Fang Hong told her: build an ecosystem. Even if you don't make the money yourself, others can earn through that ecosystem, and that's a good thing.

She could have her own personal ecosystem too, whether it was little essays or spreading rumors, it didn't matter.

As long as it didn't cross the line, she wouldn't bother with it, and Fang Hong wouldn't either—after all, it hadn't stirred up any public controversy.

Some individuals say you simply can't control it, like when someone posts a comment in a Qidian book review: "Liu Yifei is an idiot."

You can't exactly make people shut up!

Ignoring it is the right call. There will always be those who think they're the sober, independent ones, while everyone else is drunk and drugged.

Even Huayi was putting out Propaganda Department pieces hyping how much Duan Yihong contributed to Now You See Me, claiming the film's huge success was because of his acting, that the credit was his.

Trying to overshadow Liu Tianxian's spotlight.

But Duan Yihong himself had no such ambitions, and his fans weren't that worked up either—it couldn't stir up any real waves.

In mid-July, The Fault in Our Stars, which had been in theaters for over a month, finished its run. Total box office was $307 million; the Zhong family got a 25% share, $76.75 million, roughly 530 million yuan.

Of course, the profit wasn't that much—there were also production costs, buying the rights, all of which had been paid out.

The remaining 75% share was for Universal and the theater chains to negotiate among themselves; the Zhong family didn't need to worry about it.

The Purge 3 had already been released in 42 countries including North America!

At this moment, in front of Fang Hong was a laptop, the screen showing Donna, the Chairman of Universal, who was far away in the United States.

"Thanks to you for the promotion of Now You See Me," Fang Hong said.

"No need to thank me, I'm in it for the money too. I just want to discuss cooperation on The Conjuring Series with you," Donna said on screen, sitting very upright, her two hands with fingers interlaced resting on the desk in front of her.

She'd long had her eye on this IP series, but the Zhong family only gave Warner the distribution rights and never gave them to Universal.

She heard the Zhong family was going to film The Conjuring Series again.

"That can't be given. Back then, this series signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Warner; only they can distribute it," Fang Hong said apologetically.

"Oh my God, why would you sign that with them?" Donna was quite surprised, thinking he was being very unwise.

"There are hidden circumstances behind this," Fang Hong said, not at liberty to elaborate.

Back then, Fang Hong was still very weak; in order to seize ownership of The Conjuring Series, he had signed this kind of thing.

"Alright then."

Donna didn't press further, settling for the next best thing: "When are you planning to start the second Fifty Shades of Grey?"

"Probably next year," Fang Hong said.

If it follows the release schedule, it would be roughly the year after next.

"If your side makes good films, films that look pretty good, you can come to us for distribution cooperation anytime," Donna was referring to production on the China side.

"That works," Fang Hong agreed. "Can the share be increased?"

"The share for imported films is 20%, and some additional fees need to be paid. You know it can't be raised anymore; we don't make much either," Donna put on a helpless expression.

"Alright, then let's settle on that," Fang Hong didn't plan to demand much share from overseas anyway.

Imported films couldn't get much share in any country, unless the higher-ups signed a separate introduction agreement with a certain country, waiving things like tariffs.

The United States has that ability, but our country doesn't. To be honest, this isn't slander.

As long as Universal can help with promotion and Propaganda Department, that's fine. The rest doesn't matter—whatever little bit can be earned, let it be earned.

After finishing the chat with Donna, Fang Hong called in Chen Zhixi and Meng Jun, mainly to ask about how the film and television base construction was going.

At China's current construction speed, it could be completed in a year. Didn't they see the later Tesla Gigafactory—built in just 10 months.

The slow part is equipment installation and debugging.

After all, it's an entire system, not just machines placed there and done. Meng Jun came first. He said, "General Manager Fang, you needed me?"

"Nothing major, just asking you about the money for the film and television base," Fang Hong gestured for him to sit across.

The money for the film and television production base was all under his management.

"The initial 210 million hasn't been spent yet, no need to rush. Right now it's just the stage of leveling the land, laying foundations, and building houses—it won't be that fast," Meng Jun had a rough idea.

The money isn't in the construction; those don't cost much. The money is in renovation, equipment, systems, technology, and personnel costs.

Because things like virtual reality, Digital Technology Studio—ordinary people really can't operate them; you need professional talent.

"Let's not talk about this for now. Last time I had you inquire about Bona Film Group's shares—how did that go?" Fang Hong asked.

The film and television base matter could wait until Chen Zhixi arrived.

Meng Jun wasn't a professional in this field; talking to him about it, he'd understand jack squat.

"I've looked into it clearly. I was just about to tell you about this. Bona's shares have very poor liquidity in the United States; very few retail investors buy them. They're basically all in institutional hands. Americans don't think much of our country's film and television companies," Meng Jun said.

This was understandable. Americans truly weren't interested in Chinese entertainment companies—the scale was too small. How awesome were the Six Majors!

Pick any one at random, and its scale would crush the entirety of Chinese entertainment companies.

That was also why Fang Hong could keep Bona pinned down, and take the chance to taunt them a bit—they really had no money.

If you can't harvest American retail investors, where would the money come from?

"Previously, News Corporation spent $60 million on a strategic investment in Bona, buying 19.9% of their equity."

Meng Jun thought for a moment, then continued: "Haina Fund 9.9%, Matrix Partners Venture Capital 7.7%, Sequoia Capital 10.3%, Yu Pangzi himself holds 37.1%, in an absolute controlling position. The remaining 15.1% is all floating shares."

Hearing this, Fang Hong jotted it down on his notebook and did the math. Institutions held 47.8%—as long as he got those, he'd be Bona's largest Shareholder.

If he could get the shares from the retail investors and achieve absolute control, wouldn't Yu Pangzi have to call him daddy? And call Liu Tianxian mommy?

Just as Fang Hong was fantasizing about Yu Pangzi calling him daddy, Chen Zhixi walked in.

She saw Meng Jun and greeted him: "You're here too?"

"Yes, just waiting for you," Meng Jun said.

Chen Zhixi sat down beside him and asked, puzzled: "Did you call me here for something?"

"It's about the construction progress at the film and television base. How's the progress now?" Fang Hong asked.

"The foundation is already laid, we're building the houses now." The film and television base construction progress had always been overseen by Chen Zhixi.

She knew what Fang Hong wanted.

"Then prioritize getting the Virtual Reality Studio set up," Fang Hong said.

This was preparation for "Gravity"—this film had been planned for a long time, and since the film's setting is in space, it would definitely need a lot of CG technology.

They couldn't really go to space to shoot, so they needed to combine virtual reality with filming.

As for the rest of the construction progress, that could be slowed down for now, but the Virtual Reality Studio had to be built first, with system debugging prioritized.

Anyway, they'd film slowly, and if they pulled this film off successfully, the technology would achieve a breakthrough.

"Then the current funds won't be enough—we'll need to get more for equipment procurement," Chen Zhixi pointed out.

To build the Virtual Reality Studio, they had to start procuring equipment, and they also needed professionals in this area for system debugging and personnel training.

After all, even if someone set it all up for you, you still had to know how to use it—if you couldn't use it, it was all for nothing.

"Didn't we invest 210 million before? Allocate another 490 million, making it 700 million total," Fang Hong said, looking at Meng Jun.

The total investment was 2.1 billion, so this would make up one-third of it!

These funds were enough for now—even getting the Virtual Reality Studio building built wouldn't be until the second half of the year.

The money wasn't paid all at once, but in a gradual manner—some payments were for construction first, then the money; orders also required a deposit first, with the rest paid upon delivery.

You couldn't pay it all at once—what if they dragged out your progress?

"Got it, I'll arrange it," Meng Jun nodded. So it was about this matter.

The Zhong family had just gotten over 70 million, so they could just take it and use it directly—no shortage of money now. As for the remaining funds, General Manager Fang hadn't made arrangements.

Having capital injections was great—no need to worry about funding.

(End of chapter)