Chapter 599: Wearing Clothes Is Wrong

Fang Hong added this out of goodwill; the future film industry will head toward fundraising and financing, absorbing ordinary people's savings to invest in movies.

There are many scams here.

Some financial institutions, after acquiring shares of certain film projects, will pose as big stars, big directors, or major company productions to raise funds from ordinary people.

Whether these institutions actually secured shares in these film projects, they probably did.

Otherwise, how could they be so easily fooled? Ordinary people aren't all fools—they'll check things out; truth mixed with falsehood is hardest to detect.

The process goes roughly like this: the production company gives the filmmaker thirty million to shoot a film; the filmmaker essentially takes this money and does the work as required.

The producer then bundles this film project and sells it for sixty million to investors, recouping costs and making a thirty-million profit.

Investors bundle it again and sell it for ninety million to new investors, who then split it into countless small financial products and sell them to ordinary people for 120 million or more, rapidly recouping their investment.

Through financial maneuvers, the filmmaker, producer, and investors all make money—quickly—and shift all risk onto ordinary people.

Isn't this exactly how ordinary people get cheated? After several rounds of reselling and price hikes, how could any film project be this profitable? Even if the box office soars, ordinary people may never see a cent—they'll just be trapped.

Ordinary people have the least power; even if some ethical investors share profits, film returns take one or two years—you have to wait a long time.

Then another policy comes along; some can't wait and demand payouts when their film becomes a hit, so chaos erupts.

The timeliness of films makes them unsuitable for ordinary investors—the cycle is too long, and the risks in between are too great.

If you lack ability, don't touch this at all.

This became the standard trick in later film investments; after many were scammed, public outcry grew, and many film companies denied involvement.

They truly didn't participate—but they sold shares, then resold them at higher prices; what can you say?

These investors exploited their brand names, cycling repeatedly, using the names of big directors and big companies to acquire shares and then bundle and offload them onto ordinary people.

With financial tools, one yuan becomes ten thousand!

This is why investors flocked to it—they turned films into financial products, not because box office returns were high, which is unpredictable anyway.

Of course, even if it grosses massively, ordinary people won't get a share; they can peel off layers and peel off again—you'll never find them.

This is why many ordinary people later lost everything with no recourse.

Fang Hong tightening this is to eliminate turning films into financial products.

There are many other clauses: film management, production, cultural promotion, international business, film education—all must be opened to Yutu.

It's equivalent to requiring Bona to open every aspect to Yutu; I don't want your assets, but you must let me see how you operate—how you make films, how you run your business.

For example, cultural promotion: how are film-themed exhibitions and Sino-foreign film collaborations conducted?

Film management: how are projects managed, teams managed, costs controlled?

Bona still has some advanced experience in film shooting and post-production; of course, the technology itself doesn't exist.

Bona has survived this long—whether failing or succeeding—remaining China's film industry leader; it must have its unique strengths.

Just as Yu Pangzi's expression flickered uncertainly over the agreement terms, Fang Hong signaled the reporters they could begin interviewing.

A reporter asked: "Will Yutu absorb Bona?"

"Yutu and Bona are two distinct corporate entities; we hold no shares in each other, so absorption is impossible. Today we only discuss cooperation—from films to theaters to promotion—comprehensive collaboration, which I believe benefits both sides," Fang Hong said shamelessly, deliberately saying this in front of everyone.

You all disapprove of me acquiring Bona? Fine—I'll acquire it right before your eyes. Not only will I acquire Bona, I'll shackle it too.

Watching the livestream, Xiao Wang Zong, Lao Wang Zong, Wang Zhangtian, Jack Ma, and Tony Ma felt nauseated—how could such a disgusting person exist?

Yu Pangzi wanted to retort: only Yutu benefits here.

"Do you think Bona will cooperate with you?" asked another reporter.

"I believe it will; Bona is eager to cooperate with us," Fang Hong declared confidently.

"I'd like to ask General Manager Fang."

Yu Pangzi didn't answer his question but asked: "If I sign this agreement, can you guarantee Bona will continue to exist and remain under my control?"

"Whether Bona continues to exist isn't up to me—it's decided by its leader and the market. Whether you control Bona isn't up to me—it's decided by Bona's board vote," Fang Hong said, looking at him.

"So you make me sign this without offering any guarantee, and try to absolve yourself of all responsibility—I can't accept this," Yu Pangzi said, sounding somewhat wronged.

The Principal is truly evil—making Bona Yutu's dog while refusing to take responsibility. How can such a person exist?

The whole world says Yutu acquired Bona; only the Principal claims Yutu didn't acquire Bona—how shameless.

He showed the agreement to his wife and Jiang Defu; they exchanged glances—this was clearly making Bona Yutu's vassal, and it was far too harsh.

"Do you think you still have the right to negotiate?"

Fang Hong pointed to Liu Tianxian beside him: "She is Bona's largest shareholder representative. Whether you become chairman depends on her—not me. Do you understand?"

He was distancing himself while threatening Yu Pangzi: stop blabbering, just sign.

"Director Yu, you must understand—you have no cards left. There's no absolute controlling stake. Tianxian can remove you anytime; then you'll be nothing," Chen Zhixi spoke harshly.

Yu Pangzi's face turned grim, utterly humbled.

The cameras recorded everything as the Principal and Chen Zhixi crushed a grown man into pitiful submission.

Now they felt the Principal was the great demon.

Liu Tianxian remained silent beside them, offering no opinion.

"You're being too cruel—you're forcing Bona to sign its own enslavement and bullying my husband," the Peacock Princess couldn't hold back.

They've been bullying them since the moment they got out of the car.

"Do you have the right to speak here? What authority or status do you have to speak?" Chen Zhixi rebuked.

"I have every right—I'm his wife," the Peacock Princess shot back defiantly.

"As Director Yu's wife, look at what you're wearing—who allowed you to wear a dress? Why aren't you wearing a suit? Don't you realize this is disrespect to everyone here?" Chen Zhixi accused.

"I'm a girl—why should I wear a suit?" the Peacock Princess was stunned, utterly without reason.

"You must wear a suit—it's a formal occasion. Everyone must respect this place, respect this meeting, respect the people here," Chen Zhixi pointed.

"I—"

"Enough, stop talking."

The Peacock Princess had just wanted to retort, but Yu Pangzi raised a hand to stop her—no strength, and whatever you wear is wrong.

The Peacock Princess stamped her foot, furious, wanting desperately to talk back, but could only hold it in, her face flushed red with the effort.

The onlookers fell silent. The Jade Rabbit people were simply too overbearing, and it made them understand what "the weak are meat, the strong eat" really meant.

Liu Tianxian isn't wearing a suit either, Chen Zhixi herself isn't wearing a suit either—who said anything about them? They themselves didn't feel they were disrespecting anyone.

Bona's marketing manager Sun Chen was moved to tears—no strength, and whatever you wear is wrong!

The others felt no better either. The ease the Principal had just given them was gone without a trace, leaving only dread!

"Principal, Bona still has many problems right now—the delisting and privatization from the United States, and once we sign this agreement, we'll have to face new problems: financing difficulties, industry competition, box-office pressure, all kinds of problems. You have to help us solve them, right!" Yu Dong raised the issue again.

Once this agreement is signed, the problems will be huge—project financing will tighten, so their project financing will face shortages. If they don't cooperate with Alibaba and Tencent, they'll have to enter into competition with Chang'e, Jade Rabbit, Alibaba, Tencent, and Wanda.

The box office was already bad; doing this will only make the box office even worse.

"I've thought of these problems too. Since we're in a cooperative relationship, our fates should be one. You should stand together with us and concentrate our strength to face the challenge, rather than each fighting alone. Of course, I'll also do my utmost to ensure Bona's development." Fang Hong's words were deliberately ambiguous.

In short, he guaranteed nothing.

He couldn't guarantee anything—the pressure he himself faced was huge too: the three giants Alibaba, Tencent, and Wanda.

Who knew whether Bona could hold out or not? If it couldn't, then it would just disappear. Letting Jade Rabbit transfuse blood into Bona was impossible; Bona could only become Jade Rabbit's moat.

Become Jade Rabbit's dog to bite those three fellows.

"Principal, Bona is my company—more than ten years of heart and blood. All these years I've worked hard to run it; raising this company wasn't easy. Asking me to sign this agreement, how is that any different from selling my son?" Yu Pangzi spoke bitterly, his words full of sorrow.

The company he had painstakingly run for so many years was like his own son, and now they wanted him to sell his son.

And the future was uncertain!

"I think you've got it wrong, General Manager Yu. Bona isn't your company anymore, so you don't need to agonize over it. You should be grateful—grateful that Boss Fang lets you sit here, grateful that you still have the chance to run Bona." Chen Zhixi played the bad cop again.

These words made Yu Dong lower his head, like a wronged little daughter-in-law, his heart aching unbearably.

The Peacock Princess's tears were also welling in her eyes; she desperately wanted to back up her husband, but was powerless, unable to do anything.

The rest of Bona's people looked worse and worse, dejected.

Fang Hong certainly understood Yu Pangzi's feelings—he was an entrepreneur himself, and understood the hardship, and the bitterness.

But he couldn't be soft-hearted. Once he was soft, it would be cruelty to himself, it would be irresponsible toward the empire he had built.

(End of chapter)