Chapter 10: Theatrical Run Ends, Holding a Meeting

"Clap," a stack of newspapers was slammed onto the long conference table.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?"

In the office of the China Film Group, Chairman Yang tapped the table, his tone unpleasant.

Vice Chairman Han pulled the newspaper over; the headline read: "Shanghai Film Group Shows Keen Insight, Film Academy Freshman's Work Sells Big!"

The sub-headline was even more direct: It is reported that China Film Group had previously refused to invest in the film.

The newspaper was passed around by the executives present, while some mid-level managers attending the meeting dared not make a sound.

"What is the box office at?" Vice Chairman Han asked.

"As of yesterday, it has already broken twenty million," a department manager reported.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the conference room grew even more tense.

"The ridiculous thing is, the paper says China Film Group refused to invest, but I had no idea at all. Do you know, Old Han? President Jiao?"

The head of the company spoke, and all he got in return were shakes of the head; how could such a film have reached their eyes before it became famous?

But the current situation is that it has indeed become famous, and this blame must be shouldered whether they like it or not.

"Who met with the person at the time?" Chairman Yang asked.

Someone stood up trembling, "Chairman Yang, it was me, but I followed the normal procedures. It was impossible to provide investment; he was just a freshman."

The person was explaining, but it was to no avail, "You should change posts for a while, we will discuss it later."

The head of the company made the decision lightly, and several executives agreed unanimously.

The mid-level managers present remained silent, trying their best to lower their presence.

Time reached the 12th, and Lin Nan also learned that the box office had broken twenty million.

Outside opinions were polarized; the audience felt the plot was quite good, and it was the first time they had seen such a storyline, so it was very enjoyable.

But what the media released were mostly the opinions of film critics.

"Overall immature, room for improvement," this was a relatively fair assessment.

Some disparagement was fine, "Open-ended, trying to be clever," "What do eighteen or nineteen-year-olds know about marriage? It's unrealistic."

At its worst, it escalated to values and professions: can't you shoot anything other than romance films? Is this what today's students and actors are like?

As time went on, the film's box office grew higher, but the daily increases became smaller and smaller.

Shanghai Film Group was much more proactive during this period; they had fought a beautiful battle and were very enthusiastic toward Lin Nan.

They promised that if Lin Nan had new film plans later, they would be willing to continue investing and offer better terms.

Lin Nan was somewhat tempted, but still said to wait until the film finished its theatrical run, the deeper meaning being to wait until he received his dividends.

Liu Qianqian called Lin Nan to congratulate him on his film's success and complained that her mother had lost her the female lead role.

Lin Nan was threatened over the phone that he must find her to play the female lead next time.

After hanging up, Lin Nan went to find his class teacher with a smile on his face.

"Mom, my female lead role," Liu Qianqian sat on the sofa, starting to mutter, while Mother Liu was on the side helping her organize her clothes.

"Alright, alright, next time let your godfather find you a better film crew. That small crew, if you missed it, you missed it. So what if the box office passed twenty million? You are meant to film for big directors."

Mother Liu didn't even look at her daughter, her tone casual.

"Mom, don't talk about Lin Nan like that."

Seeing her daughter's angry look, Mother Liu stopped speaking.

"Teacher, it's still that matter."

"Changing majors?"

"Yes."

"Why must you change? Is our Acting Department not good? There are only a few people in your year in the Directing Department."

Although Teacher Zhou sounded impatient, she still took a few pages of paper from her drawer, "Fill these out and give them back to me."

Lin Nan took them; it was the application for changing majors, "Thank you, teacher."

"You are now the lead actor, producer, and director of a twenty-million-box-office film, and you have some fame nationwide. Stop being so cheeky all day long."

"Teacher, maybe it will be thirty million by the end of the month," Lin Nan retorted stubbornly.

The process of changing majors was unexpectedly fast; the school approved it that very day.

When Lin Nan arrived at the Directing Department office with the stamped documents, these teachers seemed to already know.

In fact, the teachers' offices were not far apart, just a few steps away.

"From now on, you are one of us in the Directing Department. You don't need to move your dormitory; just follow the Directing Department's schedule for classes."

Lin Nan left after finishing the procedures.

The 2002 Directing Department originally had a total of thirteen students: six undergraduates plus Lin Nan, making seven, with two department heads and instructors, Teacher Zhang and Teacher Jiang. The other seven were national training undergraduates, who had different instructors.

This year, the teaching staff increased significantly, and Director Tian Zhuangzhuang also returned to the Directing Department to teach.

"Old Zhang, Old Jiang, your 2002 Directing Department's strength has greatly increased," a group of teachers in the office laughed, teasing the two.

"You did this well; in the blink of an eye, you defected," Zhu Yawen said with cold sarcasm.

"I've shot two films; perhaps directing is more suitable for me. Just sit there and shout 'cut'," Lin Nan joked.

Zhu Yawen changed his face, "Director Lin, Great Director Lin, for the sake of our friendship, please remember me if you have a film in the future. I can wash up clean," he said, holding Lin Nan's right hand with both of his.

"Disgusting, get lost immediately."

"Haha, remember to save a role for me," Zhu Yawen stopped bothering Lin Nan as he organized his books; the latter had just brought back the books for the Directing Department.

The name of the Beiyingchang newcomer Lin Nan was remembered by audiences nationwide along with the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

Especially since someone, who knows who, actually leaked the news of Lin Nan changing majors, and it made the papers.

Now those who mocked Lin Nan for crossing industries shut their mouths; he really went for the directing profession.

Time reached the 25th, and the box office finally crossed the thirty-million threshold.

Shanghai Film Group decided to hold a celebration banquet; this was a huge achievement. They earned fame and money. Most importantly, there was something to write in the leaders' reports.

Shanghai Film Group had been very generous before; when investing as the production company, they did not fight Lin Nan for the film's copyright. It was highly likely they didn't expect it to be this explosive, so the copyright of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" remained in the latter's hands.

Now that the box office had broken thirty million, the matter of copyright was brought up.

Because it involved exports, this was another large piece of profit, and Lin Nan, who held all the copyright, became a hot commodity.

The phone call was very subtle, but Lin Nan could understand the meaning: Shanghai Film Group wanted a piece of the copyright pie. A film distributor had found them, and the other party was interested in both the film and the copyright.

Lin Nan didn't know how to reply for a moment, so he simply dragged it out, saying to wait a few more days.

As the film had been out for so long, Lin Nan's name was gradually known by people in the circle, especially his investment share and say in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"; those who should know, knew.

"If you want to focus on making films, being a director, and investing in films in the future, I actually suggest you change your studio into a company and hire some staff. It can be small, but it must be complete."

This was the teacher's advice to Lin Nan. After leaving, Lin Nan decisively found the agent from before; he just needed to change the name slightly: Lin Nan Film and Television Media Co., Ltd.

Regarding film exports, there are two models: either a one-time settlement, after which any profit is the business of the distributor and the theater chain.

Or find a foreign distributor to release it and split the box office according to the contract ratio.

Imported films are generally the same.

Lin Nan didn't want the trouble and had self-awareness; he wanted to choose the first option, taking the money all at once.

Time reached the end of the month, and the box office couldn't move anymore; it stumbled to thirty-one million and was taken off the screen.

At this time, he couldn't drag Shanghai Film Group along anymore. Hearing Lin Nan's intention, Shanghai Film Group gave an option.

Lin Nan would sell the film's copyright to them in a package, and as for everything that followed, whether it was a loss or a gain, it had nothing to do with him.

Shanghai Film Group held 65% of the investment, and exports would share the revenue, but copyright involved issues like remakes and adaptations, and the distributor wanted to settle it all at once.

Lin Nan accepted the option given by Shanghai Film Group.

Regarding the export aspect, with a 35% investment share and the complete copyright added together, Shanghai Film Group gave Lin Nan eight million, after tax.

Lin Nan was very satisfied with this price; he was a newcomer, and no one could say for sure if this film would be successful in Southeast Asia.

"For the box office split, we will urge the theater chains and the authorities. We will also handle the taxes that need to be paid. The final amount of the split will be deposited directly into your company's account."

Thanks to "Hero," thanks to Director Zhang and Producer Zhang.

It was their credit that allowed the theater chains to increase the production side's share ratio from 40% to 43%.

Lin Nan estimated slightly; after deducting special business taxes, the special fund for film industry development, and so on, the final split would come down.

He could probably get about 4.3 million.

"If I had known, I should have inserted some advertisements back then; those wouldn't be split by the theater chains."

Lin Nan regretted not pulling in advertisements at the time, but then he thought, probably no merchant would have been willing to find him to place ads.

However, he could pay attention to this next time.

The company was still an empty shell; a financial accountant had to be in place first, otherwise, there would be a lot to do when the split came down.

This month, Lin Nan had truly enjoyed the star treatment; many people greeted him while walking in school, many of whom he wasn't very familiar with.

"You don't have any plans for the next period, right? If not, then just settle down and attend classes for a few days," this was what the Directing Department teacher said to him.

The main meaning was probably to let him stabilize his mindset and not get carried away.

A few days later, the teacher brought someone Lin Nan didn't know to find him.

"Let me attend a symposium? Is that appropriate?"

Sure enough, as long as you achieve results, you can't avoid being pulled in to make up the numbers.

More than a year after joining the WTO, the cultural industry was the first to bear the brunt.

Lin Nan was a novice, sitting in the back shivering; looking at the people above, they were all leaders, either from the Administration or other cultural and tourism departments.

In the front row were the leaders of the Television Association and the Film Association, followed by famous big directors, famous actors, and those with official titles.

As a fledgling newcomer, Lin Nan was in the last few rows, holding a pen and putting on a show; he just had to listen to whatever was said above.

"The film and television industry is the most intuitive; I hope everyone attaches importance to this. You are all directors, actors, or screenwriters, etc., and are professional talents. I hope you can produce good works, drive the market, meet challenges, and also be able to go out..."

Hollywood is coming in, coming in with blades drawn; anyone can see the result: a dimensional strike.

Several major directors have spoken out; Zhang Yimou was very objective, believing this to be a catastrophic issue that will impact or even crush the current domestic film and television industry, but it is also an opportunity that will force us to progress.