Chapter 18: Investment

Lin Nan started attending classes with the class, and classmates would ask this and that, the most asked being about crew life.

The most direct question was how to pull investment. This question was very naked; for students without any background, it was the most difficult.

This wasn't it, Lin Nan saw a senior who had graduated long ago at school, Ning Hao.

Heard that *Incense*, which he put great effort into, lost to his grandmother's house.

Speaking of which, the Heavenly King Liu's Asian New Star Guide plan has to wait until next year, right? Then Ning Hao at this time probably has to work for a while. *Crazy Stone* still has to wait two years.

"Wait a minute, why wait two years, wait for Heavenly King Liu? Am I stupid? Cut his beard."

Lin Nan thought happily. Ning Hao is in a gap period; he can give him a script, give him funds, and let him work for himself.

Without a big lineup, no promotion, and not a good slot, *Crazy Stone* was like a dark horse, amazing everyone.

If Lin Nan invested, with the original cast, wouldn't it be crazy profitable?

Do it as you say. Lin Nan took a trip to the Photography Department. "You want Ning Hao's contact information?"

"Right, I have a script, want to film but too lazy to do it myself. Didn't I just wrap up a film?" Lin Nan said seriously.

The teacher opposite nodded. Ning Hao was his student. The failure of *Incense* had a significant impact on Ning Hao. During this time, he came back to find him to see if there were any crews to introduce.

Now there was an opportunity in front of him. Although it was given by a student in the Directing Department, this student had already succeeded, hadn't he? He was also a film company boss who co-produced with Shanghai Film Group and China Film Group.

"I'll help you call him over, what time is the appointment?"

"Six o'clock this afternoon, by the way, have a meal."

Lin Nan set the time very decisively. He had to skip class in the afternoon to get the script out.

"Teacher, help me tell him, the crew and funds I can handle. I've seen his *Thursday, Wednesday*, very good."

Lin Nan added a sentence, which gave the other party a reason. He couldn't just find him to be a director without a reason.

In the afternoon, Lin Nan didn't skip class, but asked for leave. He typed out the script in the dormitory, at least the outline was very perfect.

At 5:15, Lin Nan came out of the printing room, holding a stack of drafts.

The location was chosen at the place where he ate with Director Li Yang last time. Although the place was small, it was for good luck.

Ning Hao was Class of '99 Photography Department. I have to say, the legs of people in the Film Academy's Photography Department are long. One by one, they crossed into the directing circle without changing majors, and they were all big shots. Representative figures: Zhang Yimou, Gu Changwei, Zhang Li...

Ning Hao, born in '77, seven years older than Lin Nan, brought his wife, also a senior at the Film Academy, Xing Aina.

Lin Nan was a bit nervous. He, a fake Li Gui, met the real Li Kui. The original script of *Crazy Stone* was created by this senior.

Lin Nan was lucky in his heart. Now nearly two years in advance, this script was his.

"This script is great, black humor, comedy."

Xing Aina flipped through the script and said.

Ning Hao looked at Lin Nan, sighing in his heart. He was still struggling, and this junior in front of him already had a representative work, and it was a high-box-office one.

"Heard you just wrapped up a film recently?"

"Yes, wrapped up more than a week ago."

"You are much stronger than me." Ning Hao mocked himself.

"After this film, Senior Brother Ning won't be like this anymore. Investors will take the initiative to find you."

Lin Nan said very firmly. Ning Hao didn't quite believe it.

"At that time, it was also at this table that Director Li Yang and I confirmed the investment in *Blind Shaft* and firmly believed he would win an award."

"Oh?"

Ning Hao and his girlfriend were moved.

"Actor recommendations, I wrote them at the back of the script. Senior Brother can take a look."

Xing Aina flipped to the last page. The biggest star was Guo Tao, but he didn't have a film that could carry the box office, so it shouldn't be expensive.

"Production cost?" Ning Hao asked.

"8 million. I won't care about the rest of the things. Senior Brother can be completely in charge of the crew's affairs."

"Really?" Ning Hao asked very excitedly.

"Yes, try to keep using these people, I think it's very suitable. As for the time, this film's filming probably won't take long, and don't put it in this year, release it early next year."

Mainly because the second half of this year was too rolled.

Ning Hao and Xing Aina discussed for a while and agreed on the spot. "The contract can be signed at my company tomorrow or the day after. The money will arrive within a week, and I won't care about the rest. When the time comes, for distribution and those things, China Film Group, Shanghai Film Group, and Enlight can all do it."

Lin Nan wanted to wrap up the investment.

After discussing the cooperation, the three happily had a dinner, agreeing to sign the contract the day after tomorrow. They had to arrange their company's affairs tomorrow.

This so-called company was just like Lin Nan's studio at the beginning, still in the novice stage, Bad Monkey, right?

The signing went very smoothly. Ning Hao had already started to make an appointment for the actors' schedule, and it would start filming early next year. Lin Nan transferred half of the funds first, and the film project application was also submitted.

Not many days later, Lin Nan met the future Best Actor at school, Huang Bo, who was in the same grade as him. At first glance, he didn't recognize him, thinking which parent had come.

"Director Lin, hello, I am Huang Bo from the dubbing class, Class of '02 Higher Vocational..."

It seems Ning Hao acted very quickly and was already making appointments. "No need to thank me, I've seen your *Getting on the Bus, Let's Go*, think you are quite suitable for this play," Lin Nan started babbling.

At first, he didn't recognize the person, so where did suitable or not come from?

Really can't blame Lin Nan. The two were ten years apart. In this Film Academy full of handsome men and beautiful women, the contrast was even more intense.

Worthy of the name of high-EQ Best Actor, Lin Nan, who was originally a bit awkward, chatted openly after a few words.

"Signed?"

"Already signed, filming starts early next year."

Huang Bo took the curve to save the country and took the Higher Vocational dubbing class route, just to enter this circle and be an actor.

Now that a director was asking for a play, cherishing it was inevitable, especially after hearing that the producer was Lin Nan, he had an extra idea. Connections were walked out like this.

Lin Nan suggested not to talk about this outside first, to save trouble. Baoshihong and Daoge were from the neighboring school. If the teachers knew, they would nag again.

The school was going to hold a screening meeting. Big Director Zhang Yimou was going to return to his alma mater to promote *House of Flying Daggers*. Lin Nan also received an invitation, still in the front few rows, honored.

The headache was the school. As a signature alumnus, the actresses Zhang Yimou promoted were all from the neighboring school. Thinking about doing promotion at the Film Academy, and the leads in the interview were from the neighboring school, the academy leaders probably didn't look good.

Cannes in May had nothing to do with the mainland, only a Golden Camera Award, given to a domestic director whose film couldn't be publicly screened in the mainland.

The *House of Flying Daggers* screening meeting was held as scheduled at the academy. Director Zhang was indeed a big production; the cast lineup spanned three places.

Zhang Ziyi's face was indeed born for the big screen. This year could be said to be Zhang Ziyi's year; last year was Zhao Yanzi's year.

*House of Flying Daggers* had been determined to land in North America again after *Hero*. During this time, I heard she was filming *House of Flying Daggers* abroad, and the investment was scary again.

If I remember correctly, in the second half of the year, three blockbuster films were bunched together: *House of Flying Daggers*, *A World Without Thieves*, and Zhou Xingchi's *Kung Fu*.

Lin Nan warned himself that he still had to wait. He needed to accumulate two more films and completely establish his name and influence before he could touch big films.

Or copy a ruthless one and go win an award.

Putting his mind back to work, the blackened Xiaoyu's styling was also very beautiful, and she cooperated with Erlang Shen.

In general, TV dramas are indeed more worry-free than films. The small screen doesn't have strict requirements for the actors' micro-expressions, unlike films.

Plus, Jiao Enjun and Shu Chang were both veteran actors. Lin Nan was almost a tool man; the word he said the most was "Pass," not "Cut." Even if he shouted "Cut," it was because the props team or extras had problems.

The filming was surprisingly smooth. Before the 10th of March, Lin Nan's line was about to end, but the other two lines had to be handed over to Director Zhao and Director Yu to continue until the final wrap-up.

"Old Zhu, don't blame brother, this time I can't wait for you."

Looking at the shooting plan in Director Zhao's hand, the crew's wrap-up would be in early May.

"Goodbye, Director Lin."

"Goodbye, everyone."

Returning to the hotel in the evening, many people said goodbye to Lin Nan in advance; they might not be able to say goodbye the next day, as the crew had to get up at dawn.

"I'm going back to school."

Lin Nan invited Liu Yifei out for a late-night snack; Jiang Xin accompanied her. This guy had a great appetite, and eating for free was even more ruthless.

*Chinese Paladin* would wrap up in June. Recently, Zhang Jizhong had started releasing news on the *Return of the Condor Heroes* side, preparing to hype it up.

Liu Yifei ate a banana and didn't touch the barbecue. Jiang Xin ate very happily; she was pulled out by Liu Yifei to provide cover.

"Are you going to start this film when you go back?"

Lin Nan nodded. He was still preparing to be a fast shooter, releasing at the latest for National Day. In July there was *House of Flying Daggers*, and in December were *A World Without Thieves* and *Kung Fu*.

Only *Kekexili* in October was easy to bully. This was an award-chasing film, which meant the box office wouldn't be good. Since you want awards, then give me the box office.

It could be seen that Liu Yifei really wanted to film a movie with Lin Nan. "Time can't wait for you; I think it will be released in October at the latest."

Liu Yifei understood after hearing this; she really couldn't participate.

"Then I wish you all the best."

"Thank you, one day, I will invite you to be the female lead." This was Lin Nan's heartfelt words.

"Okay, don't lie to me, otherwise I won't let you off." Saying that, she bared her little tiger teeth.

The next day, Lin Nan left Hengdian.

On the way, he sent a few texts and made a few calls; it was time to make an appointment to see the financier.

The school teachers had hinted to Lin Nan that China Film Group couldn't be bypassed. Lin Nan didn't think about going it alone with Shanghai Film Group this time either.

The production cost of *Returning to Youth* wasn't high; it was originally a low-cost fantasy film.

Lin Nan roughly estimated that the production cost would only be 20 million ten years later. Putting it in '04, 10 million was already a lot, but he still wanted 20 million; he had to have a director's salary somehow.

For *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*, he didn't take a director's salary, only counting the investment dividends and lead actor's salary. At that time, influenced by Li Yang, he put everything into the film and didn't think that much.

On March 12th, Lin Nan met with Shanghai Film Group, China Film Group, and Enlight Media, which took the initiative to join in, at his small company.

The one from Shanghai Film Group was the same one as last time; being the first to arrive, Lin Nan invited him into his office.

The dividends for *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind* had come down, and Lin Nan had also filled the necessary positions; at the very least, he found two girls for the front desk, and the salary wasn't low.