Chapter 419: Nirvana in Fire

"Lin Dao, the person is in the small reception room on the third floor, Chief Supervisor Yue is inside."

Just as he arrived at the company, the receptionist immediately stood up to inform him.

"Mm, I know." Lin Nan nodded and walked into the elevator.

However, he did not go to the third floor, but chose to return to his office first.

In his mind, he was still pondering—what exactly was Hou Hou Hongliang's purpose in coming?

"Coming out from Shandong Film Studio, choosing to go solo instead of throwing in with other places, even rejecting the recruitment of many in-circle film and television companies. From this, one can tell that this group's will is very firm."

Sitting in his office, Lin Nan sent Yue Jun a text message. In less than five minutes, accompanied by a knock on the door, the latter came in.

"Producer Hou Hou Hongliang coming to the company is for the rights we bought earlier."

Yue Jun said with a smile—this area had always been his responsibility.

Lin Nan was dazed for a second or two. "Heh, that's right, it could only be this kind of thing."

"Then what's the specific situation now?"

"I have to go to the screenwriting department first to take a look. You know I've bought quite a lot, who knows, maybe it's already been turned into a script by now, haha…"

Lin Nan smiled. He could not refute Yue Jun's words—he really had bought quite a lot.

A few years ago, Lin Nan would still flip through the catalog when he had nothing to do. These past few years, he couldn't even be bothered to look. If something wasn't too important, selling it off on the side wasn't out of the question.

"I'll go meet this veteran producer who came from Shandong Film Studio first. You come over directly in a bit."

"Okay."

Lin Nan and Yue Jun left the office together and parted ways on different floors.

On the third floor, Hou Hou Hongliang had already drunk several cups of tea. He glanced at his watch. "Should be coming soon, right?"

Approaching the age of forty, having established a film and television company, this producer who always wore black-rimmed glasses and had a rather scholarly appearance was also under a great deal of pressure.

After leaving the great tree of Shandong Film Studio, he realized just how difficult it was to go solo.

A knock sounded on the door. Hou Hou Hongliang instinctively looked over and saw Lin Nan walk in with a smile.

In the blink of an eye, he already had a certain assessment of Lin Nan:

"Worthy of being the youngest major director in the country, and also the best-looking film director—not inferior to many top-tier male actors, but with an extra air of presence the actors lack, the presence of someone at the top of the industry."

"Lin Dao, pleased to meet you."

"Producer Hou, you're too kind. Please, sit."

Lin Nan had just sat down and was preparing to exchange a few pleasantries first, but to his surprise, Hou Hou Hongliang got straight to the point about the purpose of his visit.

"Lin Dao, I've come this time wanting to purchase the film and television rights to one work from your company, as Noon Sunshine's first television drama project."

Every trade has its specialty. Lin Nan admitted that even though Noon Sunshine had only been established for a little over a year, in television drama production, it was still much stronger than Lin Nan Pictures.

After all, they were the original team from Shandong Film Studio's Television Drama Production Center—the regular army. Whereas Lin Nan Pictures' main business was film.

"Which one?"

He hadn't had time to ask Yue Jun earlier; Lin Nan only thought of this question now.

"Nirvana in Fire."

"Which one?"

The voice in the reception room unconsciously rose a little.

"The Nirvana in Fire that your company purchased at the beginning of the year."

At this moment, Lin Nan's heart only wanted to say one thing: "Holy crap, Chief Supervisor Yue is badass!"

"Producer Hou should know that my company is not short on money."

Lin Nan appeared very calm, completely the picture of composure.

The implied meaning of those words, Hou Hou Hongliang could also hear. For a moment, he was a bit stuck.

Compared with Lin Nan Pictures, Noon Sunshine really was a "small company." The most valuable core part might just be these veterans of theirs.

"Lin Nan Pictures has many quality projects. I imagine one more or less wouldn't matter. Lin Dao, what would it take for you to transfer this work's film and television rights to us?"

Hou Hou Hongliang said in a gentle voice, not a trace of "insincerity" visible on his face—it was sincere.

Hearing this, Lin Nan also formed some judgment in his heart. It seemed Hou Hou Hongliang, or rather Noon Sunshine, was very determined about Nirvana in Fire!

"If Lin Dao is willing to transfer it to us, as the company's first work, Kong Sheng and I will personally take charge, and the production team will also be the old fellows from Shandong Film Studio…"

Seeing Lin Nan say nothing, Hou Hou Hongliang continued to lobby.

At this moment, a knock sounded on the door again, and Yue Jun walked in.

"Lin Dao, Producer Hou."

"Chief Supervisor Yue."

"Chief Supervisor Yue, what did the screenwriting department say?"

Lin Nan suddenly asked this, giving Yue Jun a start. Wasn't this tone a bit too formal? Lin Nan had never used this tone before? In less than a second, he understood.

"That one, the screenwriting department is currently adapting it." Yue Jun answered righteously.

Hearing this, Hou Hou Hongliang got a little anxious. "Lin Dao? If you would…"

"How about this, Producer Hou—please wait two days. Today really is a bit sudden; let us think it over? You heard it too, the screenwriting department is already working on the script."

Faced with Lin Nan's smiling interruption, Hou Hou Hongliang really couldn't get a word in.

His visit today really was rather abrupt; perhaps the purpose really had caught Lin Nan and Yue Jun off guard?

"Then, alright, I'll wait for Lin Dao's reply. Also, the same point as before—Noon Sunshine can offer the greatest sincerity…"

Lin Nan and Yue Jun personally saw the other party off downstairs, watching Hou Hou Hongliang get in the car and leave.

"Come to my office."

"Okay, Lin Dao."

…………

"Several writing teams are revising scripts; 'Nirvana in Fire' was already lined up with one team, but Lin Dao interrupted to insert 'The Journey of Flower' into the queue, so it hasn't started yet."

Lin Nan nodded; Yue Jun had reacted quickly just now. "What do you think of that script?"

"It's decent—quite outstanding. There are plenty of good elements; turning it into a strong script isn't hard, but making a great drama is difficult—it depends on the production team and actors. And these people from Zhengwu Yangguang have the ability."

After saying this, Yue Jun looked at Lin Nan:

"Lin Dao, our key TV project next year is 'Hua Wan Qian Gu'—it's already locked in. Add the movie, and we simply can't spare the energy..."

Lin Nan understood the implication in Yue Jun's words. He asked back: "What's your suggestion?"

"We can give them co-production rights, with Zhengwu Yangguang handling production, but the complete TV rights must belong to us—we can buy them back later."

Lin Nan considered Yue Jun's suggestion for a moment and found it feasible: "Fine. You handle the negotiations. The rights are the most important."

"Got it, Lin Dao."

After eating lunch near the company, Lin Nan left, preparing to go home.

The car radio broadcast the news:

"Famous mainland singer Wang Feng held a concert today in Chengdu; thousands of fans in the audience chanted together: 'Zhang Zhang Ziyi!'"

"Xie Xie Tingfeng attended an event and was loudly urged by reporters and fans to reconcile with Wang Fei; he smiled broadly and kept saying, 'Good!'"

"The urban romance drama 'Let's Get Married,' starring Gao Gao Yuanyuan and Huang Huang Haibo, is about to premiere on CCTV-1 and Mango TV..."

………

'The Dragon King of Shen Du' struggled toward the 600-million mark.

A 30-million gap, with today's daily box office at one million, clearly couldn't be closed within 20 days—especially since daily earnings would only keep dropping.

But no one in the industry would question whether this film would reach 600 million—it definitely would. A little trickery wouldn't hurt!

'Special Identity' was fading fast: over 100 million in seven days, now at 132 million after ten days, daily box office under 500,000—completely beyond saving, a total loss.

Even Miss Jing Tian had shifted her focus to promoting 'New Police Story 2013.'

When Lin Nan returned, Watching Shu Chang was chattering with Liu Liu Yifei.

"Liu Qianqian, Lin Nan is such a jerk—two hundred yuan? Isn't that a bit stingy? Hahaha…"

……

"I heard you talking trash about me from far away!"

"Ah!"

Lin Nan's voice startled Watching Shu Chang; she turned and saw him standing at the villa gate.

Liu Liu Yifei, meanwhile, was grinning at her with a mischievous expression.

"How come you walk so silently? And you, Liu Qianqian—you deliberately didn't tell me, right?"

"Of course! I saw how into it you were—I couldn't bring myself to interrupt, haha…"

Lin Nan walked over and raised his hand to tap Watching Shu Chang—she needed a lesson—but she dodged quickly, pretending she'd call Liu Liu Xiaoli.

"Alright, I won't tap you. Why did you come over today?"

"To hang out, and also to ask Liu Qianqian how much she's giving for the wedding gift—I've never been to a friend's wedding before, no experience."

Watching Shu Chang spread her hands wide, casually saying.

"Just give him a lucky number—do you really think I'd give two hundred?" Lin Nan teased.

Everyone else was fine, but his contribution certainly wouldn't be light—he'd been this guy's lifelong buddy, and it was about reciprocity.

Thinking of this, Lin Nan unconsciously glanced at Liu Liu Yifei.

The young lady was now intently studying Watching Shu Chang's intricate hairstyle, the complicated braiding techniques.

"Time's about right…"

Lin Nan silently murmured, his eyes filled with boundless tenderness.

In the afternoon, Lin Dao Da went with Liu Liu Yifei and Watching Shu Chang to go karting. Unfortunately, the whole afternoon, he could only trail behind the two girls, swallowing dust!

The two girls looked soft and delicate in daily life—but that was all an illusion for outsiders.

On the track, after putting on helmets, they dropped the act completely—each wilder than the other; no wonder they were best friends.

Only Lin Nan was behind, rushing desperately but unable to catch up…

………

With less than a few days until November, major films were in their final promotional pushes.

Films for the New Year season were standing ready, sharpening their weapons, waiting to enter the arena.

Due to Han Han Sanping's efforts during his final term, many imported films were blocked from the December New Year slot and rescheduled for November.

Hollywood films: 'Escape Plan,' 'Hotel Transylvania,' 'Thor 2,' 'Gravity,' 'Red 2'...

Each imported film was a final hurdle for the domestic film industry before the New Year season.

No one knew whether China Film Group would maintain Han San's "excellent tradition" starting next year?

The industry was deeply worried!

When 'Zuo Zuo Shandiao' was still in power, everyone complained.

Now that he was gone, everyone finally realized how good it was to have 'Zuo Zuo Shandiao' shielding them above—truly shielding them from wind and rain!

Among November's domestic films, not a single mainland production had a budget over 100 million; instead, Hong Kong films like 'Drug War' stood out.

But Hong Kong films were still considered imported films—though their revenue-sharing ratio was much better than foreign-language films, since they were essentially homegrown.

………

This chapter was meant to be four thousand words, but…

(End of Chapter)