Chapter 544

Over the past two years, the Chinese-language film market has become ever more booming; Jiang Heng's effects-laden blockbuster can gross over four billion in the domestic market, and worldwide box office exceeds three billion US dollars, truly making many people envy.

Even internet giants like Penguin and Ali also want to jump in and get a slice of the pie.

Penguin Pictures and Ali Pictures were born in such a market environment.

Although they have capital, they lack professional talent; they have always wanted to collaborate with a top-tier director like Jiang Heng, but unfortunately never got the chance.

Now, taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the film "Dear", Ma Yun said she wanted to visit the set of "The Return of the Great Sage" to sit in.

Jiang Heng laughed and said, "Sure, but I have a rule: if you want to visit the set, you have to play a role!"

Ma Yun said, "No problem; with my demeanor, I can totally play the Patriarch Bodhi!"

Jiang Heng said, "There's no Patriarch Bodhi in this film!"

"Then the Jade Emperor would also work!"

"There's no Jade Emperor either!"

"Then what can I play?"

"A mountain demon!"

"Damn!"

After hanging up, Jiang Heng continued filming.

Before Ma Yun arrived, he instead saw Ning Hao.

The film he directed, "No Problem, Your Majesty", currently has a box office of over 2.2 billion, growth is sluggish, and it's likely to stop here.

"How come you have time to come over? Are you here to drink the celebration wine?"

"No, I'm just here on behalf of Huang Bo to say thanks!"

"Why doesn't he come himself?"

"That's not it; it's just a bit awkward!"

In this timeline, many of Ning Hao's works are investments from Outstanding Rising Film Company.

But Ning Hao does not want to be constrained, and has not signed a contract with Outstanding Rising Film Company.

Huang Bo didn't sign with Outstanding Rising; instead he opened a studio and became his own boss.

Although he was made famous by Outstanding Rising Film Company, and knows the company wants to sign him, he preemptively set up his own studio.

Of course, doing so is perfectly understandable; Jiang Heng hasn't held it against him, it's just that Huang Bo himself feels embarrassed.

"What's the big deal? A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier. In this circle, who with talent doesn't want to be a boss? Just look at the female artists under the company—they'll mostly end up opening their own studios and becoming bosses!"

Ning Hao laughed; indeed, the current Chinese-language film market is like that, with a huge number of personal studios.

Companies like Outstanding Rising Film Company that still have so many first‑tier stars are truly rare survivors.

But Outstanding Rising Film Company possesses unique big‑picture resources in the entire Chinese‑language entertainment circle; people like Yang Mi, Tang Yan, Zhao Liying, and Liu Shishi remain with the company precisely for the chance at big‑picture female leads.

Of course, opportunities for ordinary film and TV dramas at the company are also not few.

But Huang Bo's situation is different; he should be considered a comedian by origin, and Jiang Heng's big‑picture resources have nothing to do with him, so there's no point in him staying here.

Everyone understands this; Ning Hao also doesn't think Huang Bo or Xu Zheng did anything wrong—different strokes for different folks! 'But without Director Jiang, that film would just be so-so. With your recommendation, however, the box office could easily increase by another 200 million, and the awards might also bring in more gains.'

Jiang Heng laughed, "That's because they acted well; a good film should also let more people know about it!"

After chatting a bit about Huang Bo, Jiang Heng added, "The box office for 'No Harm to Your Majesty' is basically the same—over 2.2 billion, not bad. I'll have Du Huan organize a celebration banquet for this coming weekend; after that we'll get busy again."

Ning Hao naturally had no objection, since everyone in the industry knows that Outstanding Rising Film Company's celebration banquets involve handing out 'big red envelopes'. 'No Problem, Your Majesty' is a special‑effects comedy whose core is a domestic workplace story; it has little action and no big stars, so its overseas box office is practically nil.

The film's main source of revenue is box office receipts from the domestic market.

Based on the current 2.2 billion figure, the share of box office revenue attributable to the producer, Outstanding Rising Film Company, comes to over 700 million.

Subtracting two billion for production and promotion costs leaves over five billion yuan in profit! Jiang Heng's arrangement for Ning Hao is a director's fee plus a box‑office share, the share being 12% of net box‑office income, which comes to roughly sixty million.

Adding a ten‑million‑yuan director's fee, Ning Hao earns seventy million yuan from just this one film.

Compared to top‑tier stars he's a bit lacking, but among domestic directors he's quite successful.

Upon thinking of the box‑office share, Ning Hao was delighted and asked how long until the money arrives.

Jiang Heng said, "Box‑office income has a settlement period; it normally takes three months. What, are you short of cash?"

Ning Hao hehe‑ed, "I just want to upgrade to a bigger house."

Jiang Heng laughed, "How about you pick one of my mansions to use as collateral?"

Looking at it one by one, there is not a single erroneous version!

"Really? Then I'll pick one priced over a hundred million!"

Jiang Heng said, "No problem—we'll settle any overage or shortage later; if you're short on cash, just shoot a few more films for me!"

Ning Hao waved his hand, "Forget it, forget it; I have to worry about everything for the whole crew, this work is too exhausting—I need a good two‑year rest."

Immediately glancing at Jiang Heng, he wondered, "You've been filming one after another for years—how have you managed to keep going? You're a real warrior!"

Jiang Heng laughed, "You should call me a war god!"

Filming movies is indeed tiring, especially big‑budget productions with crews of several thousand; coordinating them is exhausting beyond description.

Just like a popular video on later‑day Douyin says, commanding a large troop in battle is exhausting, truly draining one's heart and blood; Jiang Heng can only effortlessly coordinate a crew of several thousand and conduct high‑intensity shooting thanks to his 'Super Microcomputer'.

If it were merely a rebirth return, he would have long been exhausted to the point of collapse.

Seeing Ning Hao's look of lingering fear, Jiang Heng smiled and said, "You're young, and after just a little achievement you already slack off—how can you ever achieve greatness?"

Ning Hao replied, "This is a normal filming pace for a director; who could compare to you?"

Jiang Heng sighed, "I was thinking that if you work hard, next year I'll swap in a private jet."

Ning Hao's face twitched upon hearing it, thinking, "That's hardly human talk."

Jiang Heng smiled even more broadly; although giving Ning Hao a share is not insignificant, without Ning Hao the creativity would just lie idle and wasted.

Now it can bring the company over four billion, nearly five billion in income—a huge sum; handing out welfare to employees is also good!

Not many days later came the weekend, when Outstanding Rising Film Company held a grand celebration for the cast of 'No Problem, Your Majesty', handing out big red envelopes on site.

Jiang Heng, representing the company, handed over a prop check template worth sixty million to Ning Hao in front of the media.

Ning Hao was overjoyed, unable to keep his mouth shut, holding it up high and shaking it.

Everyone present was envious, chattering excitedly.

!

"The box office is high, 2.2 billion!"

"If you ask me, Director Ning Hao is impressive, Director Jiang Heng is generous!"

"I wish I had Ning Hao's abilities!" (End of chapter)