Chapter 49: Sensational, 400 Million Investment!

To fulfill his duty as host, Jiang Heng again took Li An out for a big meal.

This made her feel much more fond of him, sensing that Jiang Heng had none of the arrogance and rashness of someone who achieved success young, being generous and enthusiastic, truly a good person!

Before leaving, he still didn't forget to say thank you!

Jiang Heng was even happier; making money was only one aspect, and what he cared more about was that he had produced an excellent Chinese-language film, that's all.

In the following days, Jiang Heng continued to stay in the Beverly Hills mansion.

During that period, Elder Brother Cheng Long came over for a visit, then also bought a villa, making them neighbors.

He is currently filming Shanghai Noon in Hollywood, a drama about a Qing palace princess who escapes to America and is rescued by imperial guards.

The female lead in the film is Liu Yuling, a distinctive Chinese-American actress.

Not long after, Li An called, his tone somewhat depressed.

In his mind, the first choice for the male lead had always been Li Lianjie, but when he secured the investment and brought the script to meet him, he was told he had to accompany his wife and could not participate.

Jiang Heng felt he could fully imagine Li An's disappointment; on the phone he offered a few words of advice, suggesting he try contacting Chow Yun-fat for next week.

Li An's first reaction was to refuse, asking, 'Can Brother Fa even play a martial arts hero in ancient costume?'

But for the time being there was no better option; although Wu Yan Zu's fame was not small, playing a grandmaster-level hero seemed still lacking something!

Li An did not mention contacting Chow Yun-fat, but said Jiang Heng would stay until mid-April, finally departing to return to the domestic scene to begin preparations for filming Lion Camel Ridge.

After arriving in Jingcheng, Jiang Heng first rented an office building, then registered a company named Jingcheng Love Outstanding Rising Film Company, preparing to take Jingcheng as the center for his business development.

The news spread, instantly shaking the Jingcheng entertainment circle.

Knowing that Director Jiang had an Outstanding Rising Film Company in Xianggang, and now in Jingcheng he had set up an 'Love Outstanding Rising', no one knew what these three characters meant!

Han Sanping was now set to become vice chairman and general manager of China Film, although it had not yet been officially announced, so he dared not make any moves at this time.

He merely made a phone call to check in, then hung up.

Yu Dong, as a minor shareholder in the Bosun Company jointly founded with Jiang Heng, naturally helped out before and after, and asked Jiang Heng if he had any major projects.

Those who usually ran shell companies suddenly began large-scale recruitment; this was clearly aiming big!

Jiang Heng didn't hide it from him, laughing, 'Getting ready to play big, to make a big picture!'

Yu Dong froze, 'How big?'

Jiang Heng opened his hand, extending five fingers!

'Five thousand, ten thousand?' Yu Dong said, his voice involuntarily rising when he said 'ten thousand'.

Jiang Heng laughed, 'Add the US dollars, and keep reading!'

'Fifty million US dollars!'

Yu Dong's eyes widened enormously; at that moment his expression resembled Biao Ge's.

Jiang Heng seemed to see a scene of him suddenly fainting, but Yu Dong's psychological fortitude was strong; he would definitely not faint.

He only grew louder, asking, 'You want to invest fifty million US dollars? That's over four hundred million! Isn't the risk too great?'

He was the minor shareholder of Jiang Heng's Bosun Company; hearing this, he felt as if part of that four-hundred-million investment belonged to him.

Jiang Heng thought to himself, what a trivial risk!

The actors are all from the mainland and Xianggang, and without hiring big names, the salaries and production costs won't be much.

The so-called fifty million US dollars is merely used to boost 'booked expenses'; he can also produce better special effects to make a genuine mythological epic.

The news spread, and the shock was not limited to the Jingcheng entertainment circle, but extended to the whole mainland, together with Xianggang and Treasure Island.

Fifty million US dollars, over four hundred million RMB!

At this moment, the combined annual box office of the mainland and Xianggang film markets is only over two billion; relying on these two markets, Jiang Heng could never recoup his costs no matter what, so he must look to overseas markets.

But whether a Chinese-language mythological special-effects blockbuster will be popular in Europe and America is something nobody knows!

The Matrix selling well in Europe and America is easy to understand; mainland computers weren't yet widespread, while over there they already had rudimentary artificial intelligence.

One Million Years B. C. also did decently at the global box office, because its plot is simple and easy to understand, and everyone knows dinosaurs.

Even a child can tell which is a pterosaur, which is a velociraptor, and which is a tyrannosaur!

You let foreigners watch Chinese mythology; they might not even be able to tell who is who, or what is being said!

For a time, the entire entertainment circle's talk was that Jiang Heng had gotten carried away.

Having made a bit of money from two films, not knowing his own surname, he dared to invest so much!

And on the actors' side, everyone was overjoyed.

Top-tier film and television resources in the Chinese-language entertainment circle suddenly descended, throwing many people's schedule plans into disarray.

Jingcheng, Shanghai, Hengdian, Xianggang, and Treasure Island—each a film and television shooting location, each a production crew, hotel, restaurant—some with makeup still on their faces, some waiting for auditions, some negotiating with investors, all simultaneously picked up the phone, shocked to the core upon hearing the news.

Moreover, the phones of those somewhat close to Jiang Heng had already been blown up.

They all asked whether the fifty million US dollar investment was real.

They wondered how many roles this play actually had, and which one they could strive for.

Hong Jinbao, Yuan Biao, Yuan De, Yuan Hua, Wu Yan Zu, Li Meiqi, Ge You, Xu Qing, and so on—anyone who had ever collaborated with Jiang Heng had basically been bombarded by phone calls.

Because almost nobody could get in touch with Jiang Heng.

Inside the Beijing Film Factory, upon hearing the news, Han Sanping's expression went blank: 'Fifty million, US dollars—has he gone mad? After finally making some money, don't lose it all!'

He hurriedly picked up his phone to dial, only to hear the prompt that the number he called had been turned off.

Han Sanping thought it over, then ordered the driver to take him to Jiang Heng's newly rented office building.

This time, due to the script and the Beijing Film Factory's restructuring, he couldn't participate in Jiang Heng's new film; but as a friend and elder, he felt obliged to offer some advice.

You little brat may have money, but you can't spend it like this!

What if he loses it—what then?

What if his future films won't be that box-office hit!

Han Sanping was anxious as fire, constantly urging the driver; it took only over ten minutes to reach the downstairs of Jiang Heng's newly rented office.

He entered the building and went up to the floor where Aiyouteeng Company is located; he had previously had someone send a flower basket there, so he knew the exact location.

Upon arrival, he saw—wow, what a crowd—the entrance of Aiyouteeng Company was also packed full.

All I can say is that news spreads way too fast in Beijing—where the heck did they hear this from?!

Han Sanping still had tremendous influence; his driver stepped forward, told the guard, and they were quickly let in.

Inside Jiang Heng's huge office, Han Sanping, still feeling uneasy, said, "You kid, long time no see—you come up and stir up a big scene right away!"

Jiang Heng chuckled, "I didn't expect this either!"

Han Sanping gave a cold snort, "You couldn't have predicted that? I don't believe it—you must be secretly pleased. The film hasn't even been shot yet, and you've already made a name for yourself! Fifty million US dollars, over four hundred million yuan—what were you thinking?"

Jiang Heng looked innocent, "I didn't think much—I just wanted to make a film I like and am satisfied with!"

The Matrix and One Million Years B. C. —still not enough to satisfy you?

Jiang Heng smiled, "I just feel it's lacking something!"

(End of chapter)