Chapter 1100: Lost in Russia

Although Chen Chen Kexin's "Leap" has only just started filming for a week, the efficiency of locking in its release date is quite high;

On the morning of the 21st, the film's official Weibo directly announced to the public its theatrical release schedule—aiming straight at the Spring Festival on February 5th.

The entire production industry can see that the box-office ambition of "Leap" is, just like its title, completely undisguised.

But after a whole morning, if one were to ask which film's related news was the most eye-catching and the one the Chinese-language film industry was paying the most attention to…

Then the answer is definitely not "Leap," but "Lost in Russia."

Because there are whispers in the industry that Huanxi and Xu Zheng intend to sign a box-office guaranteed distribution agreement for "Lost in Russia";

And the negotiations with the other party have already reached the final step, about to seal the deal, thereby finalizing the last box-office guaranteed distribution contract.

It sounds absurd, but it's also true: as a director Lin Da who only enjoys dividend rights and has no say in project management or decision-making…

He is the last "film party" to learn of this matter, even later than the rumors online.

Lin Nan did not take the initiative to ask about this matter; he waited for Huanxi's side to come and explain it to him.

And sure enough, Dong Ping and Xu Zheng did not keep him waiting too long—the former rushed over to Shunyi personally at 11 a. m.

So Lin Nan received this top-tier film-and-television capital figure in the industry, the chairman of Huanxi Pictures with sky-high IQ and EQ, in his own study at home.

"Lin Dao, the 'Lost in' series is a major IP. Precisely because it's a major IP, it naturally has to be scheduled for the Spring Festival. This decision will be officially announced immediately after wrap.

As for the guaranteed distribution matter, this idea is simply to add an extra layer of security to the film's revenue, ensuring that we can prioritize securing sufficient profits—lock it in for good, right?

After all, Lin Dao, you also know that competition in the Spring Festival slot has always been extremely brutal, especially these past two years—either you soar to the heavens, or you die in the valley…

And the films that can soar to the heavens at the box office are basically destined to be only one; as for the other films in the same slot, they all become cannon fodder, losing every penny…"

"Wet your throat, then continue."

Lin Nan picked up his own cup and also gestured an invitation to Dong Ping.

He reminded the latter to get to the real main topic; he wanted to hear the specific partner and content of the "box-office guaranteed distribution contract."

"Logically speaking, if this kind of box-office guaranteed distribution matter had been in the past, we should have looked to Wanda for cooperation.

But what Wanda looks like now, Lin Dao surely knows as well. What they need most right now is cash, so how could they possibly take out cash to do something like this?

Moreover, I heard that the Wanda Cinema Line has actually started harvesting leeks early, raising the average ticket price at Wanda cinemas for 'Avengers: Endgame,' which premieres the day after tomorrow;

And in nearly ninety percent of their theaters, they have even set up quite a few so-called 'premium seats,' with ticket prices as high as 300 yuan. What 'premium seats'? They're actually just a section right in the middle of the auditorium…"

Hearing about these moves by Wanda Cinema Line from Dong Ping's mouth, Lin Nan couldn't help but be moved—they really are short on cash!

"So which company is Huanxi negotiating with?"

"It's Hengdian Pictures! They can be said to be another mountain stronghold in the domestic film industry—no, a mountain range formed by an alliance of mountain strongholds."

"The Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, as always." Lin Nan nodded in acknowledgment. The Jiangsu-Zhejiang region has always done business this way since ancient times—mutual support and pulling each other along.

"Backed by Hengdian World Studios, they have formed a cluster industry that includes film and television production, distribution, cultural tourism, and cinema lines.

It can be said that Hengdian Pictures' strength can absolutely rank in the industry's top five, because it's not one company, but a group.

Just like this time, Huanxi cooperating with Hengdian Pictures is equivalent to cooperating with the entire Zhejiang film circle…"

"I'd like to hear the terms of your guaranteed distribution agreement… Don't look at me with that kind of gaze. Although I don't have the right to interfere in the operation of 'Lost in Russia,' I at least have the right to be informed, right? The right to care about my share of the profits, right?" Lin Nan said emphatically, looking at Dong Ping.

"Of course." Dong Ping smiled and nodded. "It's still under discussion at the moment, but the general tone of the cooperation has already been clearly set.

The general cooperation model is that Hengdian Pictures will pay us a guaranteed fund of several hundred million yuan; this portion of the funds includes our production costs and profits;

Then, after the total box office exceeds a specific amount, for the box office exceeding that portion, we enjoy the right to normal revenue sharing…

What Huanxi and the other party are currently debating and negotiating is the amount of this guaranteed fund, and how many hundred million yuan to set as the dividing line for total box office;

Below this line, Huanxi no longer enjoys additional revenue sharing; above this line, Huanxi normally enjoys the revenue sharing for the excess portion…

However, according to plan, even if the contract is finalized in the short term, we won't release it to the public immediately. It should be officially announced during the year-end New Year film season…

"What about the film's publicity and distribution?"

"Hengdian Pictures will be responsible for that, bearing the publicity and distribution costs." Dong Ping replied, then looked at Lin Nan with considerable confidence: "Lin Dao, just rest assured.

According to the copyright agreement between our two companies, Lin Nan Pictures owns 10% of the distributable box-office share, which is 23.25% of the film party's share—i. e., 23.25% of all amounts Huanxi receives this time.

The share belonging to Lin Nan Pictures, Huanxi will prioritize guaranteeing; once the funds from that side arrive, we will pay Lin Dao's share here as the first priority…"

Dong Ping has said it to this extent; what else can Lin Nan say?

The former might as well have said it outright: according to the contract, you just wait for your share; no need to interfere too much.

More than twenty minutes later, Lin Nan and Dong Ping walked out of the study.

Liu Liu Yifei also came downstairs from the third floor at just the right moment, and together they saw Dong Ping out of the villa, sending him to the parking area closest to the main gate of the estate.

Watching the latter get into the car and slowly drive out of the estate's main gate, Miss Liu then opened her mouth to ask Lin Nan: "Is Huanxi really going to sign a box-office guaranteed distribution agreement?"

"That's right, they're already discussing contract details. Dong Ping is an old fox, very cunning…

Don't be fooled by how he always greets us with a smiling face, like a nice guy, but deep down he is forever a top-tier capitalist and predator.

He only cares about profit, always choosing the path that maximizes profit—just like the current box-office guaranteed distribution. See, the moment he releases the news, the stock price immediately benefits!

Because everyone knows what it means when a major IP chooses the box-office guaranteed model: it means the film has already made money before it's even released, and made an absolute killing…"

While speaking, Lin Nan also felt quite emotional inside.

Dong Ping and his people truly strictly practice the original intention of establishing Huanxi: the greatest profit is always extracted from the stock market, not from the film market.

Of course, making money from the film market is indeed too slow, not as easy, relaxed, or assured as making money from the stock market.

"Let Huanxi Pictures do whatever they want, as long as it doesn't affect our interests." Linking arms with her own director, Liu Liu Yifei was about to head back.

"No problem. He just reminded me several times between the lines, reminding me that Lin Nan Pictures doesn't have the right to interfere in project operations—just wait for the share!"

Lin Nan nodded in agreement, then glanced at the watch on his wrist: "Alright, give our mom a call. The stage play at the Poly Theatre should be ending. See what she wants for lunch—I'll cook personally…"

While Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei were quietly discussing the menu, Dong Ping, who was on his way back to the company, also got on the phone with Xu Zheng.

"Just tell them directly: if the guaranteed portion is less than 600 million, then don't bother talking. Of course, the more you can ask for, the better…"

"Understood, no problem."

……

Number 22, number 23...

The fire at Notre-Dame de Paris finally made it onto the domestic trending searches, and online public opinion split into two extremes.

Those cheering were mostly ordinary netizens—after all, the other side was one of the Eight-Nation Alliance;

while those posting lamentations and grief were mostly so-called "cultured people," especially the actor and celebrity crowd, the most numerous and vocal of all.

The two camps even started going at each other online—one side talking about national feuds and family hatreds, the other preaching "one world"... This kind of scene is honestly hard to judge.

Of course, both sides could be right, and both could be a bit extreme...

But one can't deny that so many domestic film and TV celebrities mourning a foreign "treasure" is indeed a bit of an eyesore! Seems like no one ever saw them post mourning the Old Summer Palace...

"The first well-known director to be collectively attacked by netizens has appeared—it's Fan Li Bingbing's good friend and mentor, the so-called 'Jade Director.'

Under her Weibo post were all kinds of snide remarks, telling her not to rush to feel heartache over Notre-Dame burning, but to first make a movie about the Old Summer Palace, starring Fan Li Bingbing... saying once it's filmed there's no need to worry about releasing it—just burn it and that'll do..."

"Hahaha, that suggestion works, vicious enough!"

"Then she turned off the comments on her Weibo and blocked the netizen who left that comment. But the netizen just took a screenshot and posted it on Weibo, and right now it's hanging on the trending searches..."

"You can only say that the benefit of having so many main-melody films is fully revealed in situations like this—certain 'intellectuals' find it hard to survive."

On the morning of the 24th, when Lin Nan arrived at Tiangong Colors, Director Lu Yang and a few others were there gossiping about the outside scandals, especially cracking jokes about a certain industry colleague.

"How are the opening numbers for 'Avengers: Endgame'?" Lin Nan plopped down at his workstation and asked the others.

"Lin Dao, this film's screening share is absurdly high—a full 82.6%, gobbling up all the screening resources of every cinema chain in the country..." someone immediately answered.

"But thinking about it carefully, it's reasonable. After all, ever since 'The Wandering Earth' came off the screens, the box office market has completely entered a slump.

Now that 'Endgame' is released, the cinemas and the market are all counting on it—of course they'd go all out to support it."

"Looking at the buzz and attendance for 'Avengers: Endgame,' I'm guessing the final total box office will very likely be very, very high." Director Lu Yang opened a webpage, glanced through it, then said to Lin Nan with certainty.

"Then won't the films behind it be utterly disastrous? Like Director Diao's 'The Wild Goose Lake,' which just received a surprise release date a few days ago—now its prospects look even bleaker."

Lin Nan couldn't help laughing. Then he turned on his computer, ready to continue editing from yesterday's footage.

"There's also the one produced and invested in by Wong Kar-wai, directed by Pema Tseden—'Jinpa'. That film opens the day after tomorrow, it'll die too, haha..."

Director Lu Yang added with a laugh, then suddenly brought up the Beijing International Film Festival: "Last night's BIFF awards ceremony—Lin Dao, did you follow it?"

"Why would I follow that? Isn't it just everyone getting a share, handing out the goodies?" Lin Nan busied himself with his own work while bantering with Director Lu Yang.

"Chen Chen Jianbin's self-directed, self-starring comedy 'The Eleventh Chapter' won Best Supporting Actress—guess who played the supporting role?"

"Who?"

"Wang Fei's eldest daughter Dou Jingtong, and it's her first film role. She was paired with Chen Chen Jianbin, Zhou Xun, and Da Peng, and she was the only one to win an award.

Even looking at the entire winners list, she was the only Chinese person to win a core individual award—all the other major individual awards went to foreign filmmakers. What does Lin Dao think of her opening?"

"Mm, a complete god-tier start. That's exactly why I say the four domestic international film festivals—BIFF, Changchun Film Festival—are just playing around.

Presumably the jury members just treat it as attending an industry event; networking and appearance fees are far more important than the awards themselves." Lin Nan gave a matter-of-fact assessment.

"So online, the comments about BIFF's award results are basically all contempt."

"Heh, serves them right." At this point, Lin Nan suddenly became interested and looked at Director Lu Yang:

"If you want to reserve an award for someone at BIFF or Changchun Film Festival, it's actually pretty easy—just say the word. If there's someone in the industry also pulling strings to compete, you can negotiate..."

"Stop, stop. Count me out. I would never use my connections and favors to beg for this kind of 'watered-down award'—it's a pure waste."

"Not bad, you've got awareness…"

Over at Tiangong Colors, Lin Dao Da was holding forth on the issue of "awareness"; and quite coincidentally, at the same time, the Film Bureau was also discussing "awareness"!

In the screening room, the finished cut of "The Eight Hundred" was on the screen.

And among those watching, it wasn't only the people in charge of the review—the leadership had also been invited.

At this moment, everyone's expression was extremely solemn.

"In my view, this film's problems are hidden very cleverly. Saying it has problems is reasonable; saying it has no problems is also arguable."

"Because the main-melody tone of united opposition to the outside cannot be denied, and you can't say it's wrong, so some of the problematic plot and shots hidden inside can be defended—you can't just kill it with one stroke..."

"I wonder if the director did this intentionally or unintentionally?"

"Because opinions among us are far from unified, and the vote difference between the two sides is small, we can only ask you, leadership, to take a look..."

Voice after voice rang in the leader's ears, awaiting his instruction.

"Send it back." A few seconds later, the leader spoke.

"Then should we give revision notes?"

"Let them reflect on it themselves, find it themselves!"

"Understood."

Not long after, the leader left the screening room, and the film on the screen naturally paused as well.

"Notify them later?" a questioning voice rang out again.

"This film seems to have been submitted almost two months ago, right?"

"By the end of this month, it'll be exactly two months."

"I remember when they submitted it, it seemed like the release date was already set? Mm, then notify them right away."

"Since this film gets an immediate notice, what do we do with the script for 'Crossing the Angry Sea' reviewed by Cao Bao? That script was submitted only two days after 'The Eight Hundred' finished cut—we need to give it a result too!"

"Scripts can be handled with a bit more latitude than finished films..."

"Then it passes?"

"Yes, let it pass!"

When Cao Bao received the news, it was already past two in the afternoon; he was getting ready to go give a big class to two undergraduate majors.

One was the Literature Department, the other the Acting Department—after all, the former needs to write scripts, and the latter also needs some eye and ability for picking scripts, right?

"Confirmed passed? Good, then I'll come over tomorrow morning to pick up the filming permit... you, no matter how close we are, I still have to say thank you, haha..."

"Director Cao? 'Crossing the Angry Sea,' the script got approved?" Beside him, Xue Xue Xiaolu set down the cup she had just filled with hot water and asked eagerly.

"Mm, approved. Don't be anxious either—I'm sure 'The Whistleblower' will pass review this time too." Cao Bao nodded with a smile on his face.

"Sigh, I hope so."

Unlike the joyful atmosphere over at the Film Academy's Literature Department, things at Huayi were far more stifling.

Director Guan Hu, upon receiving the notice, immediately called Wang Wang Zhonglei. The latter had no choice but to agree to meet at the company.

And so, a scene unfolded that surprised many Huayi employees—the company's general manager, who hadn't shown up at the company in ages, was actually at the office today! The only question was when the chairman would also make an appearance.

Inside the general manager's office, Wang Wang Zhonglei's brow was knotted almost into a rope.

"Last time it was Feng Feng Xiaogang's 'Youth,' and now it's your 'The Eight Hundred.' These past two years we've really been on a streak of bad luck!"

"The release date is set for June 25th—I don't know if we can make it in time?"

"Then hurry up."

"But the higher-ups never told me where the problem actually lies."

Hearing this, Wang Wang Zhonglei suddenly stared at Director Guan Hu—wasn't this exactly the same as what happened with 'Youth' back then?

"Make changes. You wrote the script, you directed the film—you must know where the problem is!" Wang Wang Zhonglei's voice was utterly resolute and certain.

The office instantly fell silent; Director Guan Hu said nothing.

……

At four-thirty in the afternoon, Lin Nan got off work right on time, and on the drive home he switched through quite a number of radio stations.

Because it was downright bizarre—whatever station he flipped to, they were all pushing that hit song 'Big Bowl, Wide Noodles.'

The entertainment circle was the same, with a whole crowd of people pushing it hard—He Jiong, Huang Huang Zitao, Yang Mi, Xu Xu Jinglei… one after another, truly shameless.

"Mm, a Zhang Liangying song, now that's normal." Lin Nan muttered to himself as he turned off the radio and opened a music app.

But before he could finish even one song, the music suddenly dropped to a very low volume, because a call was coming in.

"This number?" Lin Nan put on his Bluetooth earpiece. "Who is it?"

"Is this Lin Dao?"

"Speaking."

"Lin Dao, I'm calling from Magic City… the Five-One Project award for 'Dying to Survive' will be handled by our side for the submission… Ren Dong from Shanghai Film will contact you afterward…"

Not long after, the call ended. But before the screen even went dark, another one came in.

"Who is it?"

"Is this Lin Dao?"

Same script, another round. This time it was about 'The Wandering Earth,' the caller from the capital side.

……