Chapter 1152: Disney's Response; The

"China Film, Shanghai Film, and Huayi Film — all three are Zhu Kong Chu Pin.

We only just managed to use the opportunity of Wang Dong and Ren Dong retiring one after another to cut off our 'private ties' with state-owned enterprises. How can we break off cooperation one moment and then re-establish ties the very next?

Once we get entangled again because of the 'Battle at Lake Changjin' project, shaking them off later will be infinitely harder. That's also why I directly declined Director Fu's invitation."

Listening to Yue Jun's explanation, Lin Nan nodded, fully in agreement: "That's the logic, we really should decline. Even if it is a destined, high-grossing, main-melody blockbuster project."

"Hahaha, Lin Dao, 'Battle at Lake Changjin' is undoubtedly a blockbuster, and it's certain to get a high box office.

But for an individual Zhu Kong Chu Pin, this series absolutely won't make much profit — unless all the Suo You Chu Pin are Shangshi Company, able to grab huge profits through the stock market."

Yue Jun couldn't hold back a laugh as he picked up Lin Nan's thread, his tone playful, teasing and joking nonstop.

"What do you mean by that?" Lin Dao Da was a bit confused, not catching the subtext of Yue Jun's words.

"Lin Dao, do you know how many investors this main-melody commercial blockbuster series has? Do you know the total budget for the two-part film?"

"How much?"

"Director Fu said the total budget for the 'Battle at Lake Changjin' series starts at 1.3 billion. China Film, Huayi Film, Shanghai Film, Hu Hu Bayi, and Bona Film — these five companies are Zhu Kong Chu Pin;

while Alibaba Pictures, Summit International, Emperor Motion Pictures, Inner Mongolia Film Group, Shancheng Film Group, AVIC Capital, Hehuan Pictures, and 12 other companies are Lianhe Chu Pin.

You heard right — the lineup of Suo You Chu Pin alone has already reached 17. Even if the two films together earn 10 billion at the box office, how much profit can each company ultimately get?

In the Suo You Chu Pin lineup, only those that also have distribution or theater-chain businesses, or are themselves Shangshi Company, can truly earn the lion's share of the box office and the project's dividends.

So for us, even without that fundamental reason for declining, this project has absolutely no need for consideration. It sounds grand, but for us it's actually a white elephant…

Undoubtedly, Director Fu and the others' purpose in inviting us is purely to freeload on our influence and drawing power;

they may have even already prepared some publicity plans — Lin Nan Pictures and Lin Dao's name will definitely be one of the key gimmicks used in promotion."

Hearing Yue Jun's introduction and analysis at this point, Lin Nan couldn't help wanting to applaud him — the consideration was truly meticulous and thorough, perfect!

"Since we've clearly declined, it's best to leave it at that. Hopefully they won't come bother us again, so no one has to be embarrassed."

"Lin Dao, that's hard to say. After all, I'm the one who declined Director Fu, and he didn't contact you directly. Who knows if they'll just give up? Hahaha…"

"If they can't reach me, they'll naturally understand my wishes." Lin Nan said with considerable confidence.

"Alright, hurry up and get ready for lunch — I'm about to eat too." Hearing Liu Liu Yifei's call from outside the study, Lin Nan hurriedly prepared to hang up with Yue Jun.

"Alright, let's chat later. Oh right, by the way, Director Fu's momentum is strong right now — he won't think we're being too disrespectful and get petty about it, will he?" Just as they were about to hang up, Yue Jun unexpectedly tossed out another joke.

"Don't worry. The film and television industry hasn't been what it was ten years ago — the presence of state-owned enterprises is getting weaker and weaker… and Director Fu isn't that kind of person either.

You can tell from his project style — he always invites a large group of industry giants to collaborate. He's not the domineering, forceful type like Director Han and Director La used to be."

……

In less than an hour, the other 15 Suo You Chu Pin of the 'Battle at Lake Changjin' project all received the news — Lin Nan Pictures had declined Director Fu's invitation.

"If Lin Nan Pictures had joined, under these circumstances already more favorable to main-melody films, the final total box office would absolutely have reached an astonishingly stunning height.

Even pushing a single film's box office ceiling up another 500 million wouldn't be a problem at all! But now they've refused — that's truly a pity, heartbreakingly regrettable."

Wu Jing gritted his teeth, looking as if he'd lost tens of millions; it was also clearly obvious he wasn't acting.

"So what do we do now? Should we pay a third visit, like Liu Bei recruiting Zhuge Liang?" Yu Dong said with a serious expression. He also very much hoped Lin Nan Pictures could join, because they could earn more.

"Forget it. I just got off the phone with Director Ren — he suggested we give up. He said Lin Dao had long intended not to cooperate with state-owned enterprises anymore." Shanghai Film's Wang Dong sighed endlessly.

The moment these words came out, the dozen-plus people on the emergency video conference all froze instantly.

"Is that so? No wonder he declined the invitation to 'My People, My Country' back then." Only now did Director Fu realize belatedly that the reason Lin Nan had given him for declining was nothing but a perfunctory excuse!

Just as the group was chattering away, all of them full of regret, Yu Dong, Director Fu, and Shanghai Film's Wang Dong in the video conference almost simultaneously received some message, staring at their phone screens in shock…

"Lin Nan Pictures just sent word to all domestic theater chains — their period fantasy special-effects film 'The Assassin,' with a production cost as high as 300 million, won't be released early… but they're willing to accept a guaranteed box-office buyout distribution deal. And they specifically added: but the price won't be cheap!" Yu Dong said to everyone with a complicated expression.

Hearing this, several of the attending giants instantly couldn't sit still.

"It's almost noon — shall we wrap up here?"

"I think that works. Lin Dao declined, so let it be — no need to force it…"

"Then let's proceed with the normal preparations for 'Battle at Lake Changjin.' I'll log off first."

……

Starting from noon, news about 'The Assassin' spread like wildfire through the film circle, then swept the entire film and television industry.

Especially the countless distribution companies and all theater-chain companies in the industry — they were clearly the most attentive and restless; nearly eighty percent or more of the giants had mobilized, their interest at maximum.

After all, Lin Nan Pictures' films are universally recognized as money-makers in the industry; and just that openly released phrase "but the price won't be cheap" is enough to show how confident Lin Nan Pictures is.

In the afternoon, just as Lin Nan had predicted, Wang Wang Changtian called. Because, barring the unexpected, Enlight Pictures was destined to lose the distribution business for a major film.

"Under the current situation, the uncertainty after a normal theatrical release is clearly ten or even dozens of times higher. To ensure this project doesn't lose money and absolutely makes a profit, guaranteed box-office distribution is the optimal solution.

And to put it bluntly, this way we can even earn more — of course, it's by squeezing the theater chains, who have no choice but to save themselves, to get more profit. It's also called taking advantage of the fire to rob."

Lin Nan couldn't help cracking a joke, placing himself in the villain's position. He was ninety percent sure the one who ultimately buys out 'The Assassin' would be a giant with theater-chain operations!

But you can't say the theater chains are losing out either — because unlike Lin Nan Pictures, which is going in to take advantage and make money, the theater chains are truly fighting for survival. Paying money to save lives — how could that be a loss?

Hearing Lin Nan speak so bluntly, Wang Wang Changtian was a bit unaccustomed to it, but he quite agreed with the reasoning: "Do you know how many companies in the industry have already gone under?"

"I really haven't been paying attention to that. I only know it's quite a lot — on average, dozens a day?"

"Nearly a thousand film and television production companies have already collapsed. The number of cinemas that have gone bankrupt losing money is far above that — several times more. So your willingness to sell 'The Assassin' right now will definitely cause a frenzy!"

"The closed cinemas should all be those franchise cinemas, right? Family operations?" Lin Nan's tone also grew much more serious.

"Yeah, pretty much. After all, individual operators definitely have the weakest risk resistance, then small companies, small theater chains.

Also, I've thought about it on my end — I won't apply for a license myself. Later, I'll just keep an eye out for a small theater chain and buy the license directly. It'll definitely be a cabbage price anyway…"

……

On the 8th and 9th, the art exams at Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Communication University of China were conducted quietly.

At the same time, Yue Jun grew even busier; phone call after phone call kept coming in, all inquiring about 'The Assassin.'

And his asking price truly lived up to the four words 'the price won't be cheap,' causing a group of industry capital and giants to fall into calculation and haggling — but not a single one clearly gave up.

On the morning of the 10th, the eyes of the domestic film circle turned to the Oscars. Those people were truly a bunch of lunatics — walking the red carpet and holding an awards ceremony amid such a storm.

Of course, everyone's focus was definitely on the awards results.

The "benevolent" stepfather bestowed two big awards on the little dog — *Parasite* won Best Picture and Best Director.

Indeed, only under that kind of twisted system and the reality of colonization could a story environment like *Parasite* be born; only then does the plot seem so perfectly reasonable.

What a pity for *Joker* — so brilliant, yet it only took home one Best Actor.

Actually, from the artistic perspective of professional filmmakers, *Joker* equally deserved Best Picture, and was even more outstanding than that *Parasite*;

but regrettably, it lost on factors outside the film itself — it lost to the broader environment, lost to political necessity.

"The Cinema Exhibition Association is calling on properties nationwide to reduce rent for theaters, but the curses outnumber the cheers.

Hengdian World Studios announced a phased reopening, but required that filming sites keep to no more than twenty people.

The Hong Kong Film Awards cancelled its ceremony but still released the nominations list — that *Better Days* is the hot favorite!

Happy Happy Mahua actually officially announced another comedy, called something like *Super Family*…"

In the living room, Watching Shu Chang was chirping away, reading Liu Liu Yifei the latest gossip from the industry, while Lin Nan sat beside her, clattering away at his keyboard, replying to Disney emails.

That's right — no more video conferences needed; everything is being settled over email.

Before long, Lin Nan let out a long breath; he stood up looking refreshed and clear-headed, stretching his back with a big lazy stretch.

"Lin Nan, is there a result?" Liu Liu Yifei immediately looked over at her own big director with an expectant face, her eyes glistening.

"Mm, Disney agreed. When we make the official announcement later, we'll need to coordinate with them. Over the next few days I'll be reaching out to all the core leads one by one to notify them…"

Without a doubt, Lin Nan's face wore a relaxed smile, and even his tone carried a clear note of pleasure.

Liu Liu Yifei was equally thrilled — the heart she'd been holding suspended these past days had finally settled safely. "This really is the best news this month. I was terrified they'd dig in and refuse to budge."

"How could that be possible? During the video conference I even pulled out threats — I was one tantrum away from rolling on the floor." Lin Nan laughed, mocking himself.

"Don't put it so unattractively — we're doing this for their own good too. By the way, who notified you? Tom or someone else?" Liu Liu Yifei asked with a teasing smile, her eyes curving.

"Someone else. But Tom also sent one — he's here taking credit, saying he gave an impassioned, eloquent speech for half an hour at the executive meeting and finally swung a lot of people to support me. Go on, tell me — how much water is mixed into his usual line of talk?"

"Probably ninety percent water. After all, there are no fools — those Disney people must all know our proposal is right!"

Miss Liu understood Tom's personality very well — that guy just loves to openly exaggerate like that. Even if he only put in one share of effort, he'd tell you he gave it his all; he'd absolutely never quietly contribute without fanfare.

"Hahaha, I think so too."

"So after this are we just waiting? Who knows when we'll actually get to see *Hua Mulan* on the big screen?" Watching Shu Chang clicked her tongue and cut in with a sigh.

"Shouldn't be too long. In any case, let's treat it as building up our strength — just waiting for the moment we throw the punch and it hits theaters."

……

Happy, working as usual.

"Regarding the revenue split for *Lost in Russia*, Lin Nan Pictures has already sent back a receipt. The subsequent online traffic revenue share has also been set for the end of each year."

Looking at Xu Zheng sitting across from him with an expressionless face, Dong Ping said unhurriedly. He was well aware that Xu Zheng was in an extremely foul mood right now, and not in a good state either.

The reason wasn't only that Xu Zheng had been publicly blacklisted by the Jiangzhe film circle, but also that *Lost in Russia*'s reviews during this period had been very poor — even worse than *Lost in Hong Kong*.

"The *Lost in…* series IP — shelve it indefinitely." After a long silence, Xu Zheng finally spoke.

Hearing this, Dong Ping's expression froze for a moment, unable to believe his ears: "Are you sure? Even if *Lost in Russia* had some problems, this IP is still very valuable!"

"Huang Bo came to cameo in *Lost in Russia* because he was repaying my favor for his cameo in *The Island*; Wang Wang Baoqiang, on the other hand, hasn't had anything to do with me at all since *Lost in Thailand*.

And now I'm being targeted by the Jiangzhe circle again… you tell me, how can this IP possibly continue? To put it bluntly, this IP is already completely dead because of the targeting against me!"

"You'll probably have to mention this decision to Lin Dao, right?"

"Mm, go ahead." Xu Zheng nodded, then smiled helplessly. "Actually, these past two days I've been mulling over who in the industry could save me, be a middleman and pull me out.

Think it over and over, and it seems Lin Dao could… but how could Big Lin Dao possibly do something like that? I'm not his relative."

"Forget it, stop thinking. Let's just go with what we discussed last time — the industry is this big, the Jiangzhe circle can't keep a complete stranglehold forever.

Also, try to mingle more with the Shanghai circle. Although the Magic City film industry was among those boycotting you last time, no matter what, you're still from the Shanghai circle — they can't completely leave you no way out… after all, the Shanghai circle has never had any big commercial-film directors to begin with!"

"Mm, got it."

Before long, having finished his business, Xu Zheng stood up to leave the company, and Dong Ping saw him out. When they reached downstairs, the latter finally couldn't help bringing up something else:

"You and Tao Hong are both shareholders in that multi-level marketing company… to be honest, I think the way they operate is too dangerous. Just a heads-up — you two had better be careful."

Xu Zheng completely didn't take Dong Ping's goodwill to heart, only nodding perfunctorily; after all, the money was just too good — even if there were problems, they'd only be small ones!

……