Chapter 439: Ditching the Single-Genre Film Craze, Sell Off

Lin Nan became the first mainland director to be nominated for four Academy Awards.

This news, within just a single day, completely set the entire domestic film and television circle ablaze.

From the Film Bureau at the top down to ordinary netizens at the bottom, everyone was buzzing about it — the entertainment circle was the most restless of all.

These past few days, Liu Liu Yifei had been teased by quite a few people, telling her to get her Oscar red carpet gown ready so she could "go into battle" alongside Lin Nan.

Even several of Miss Liu's brand sponsors had proactively reached out, their meaning very clear — the gown, jewelry, accessories, all of these could be prepared in advance.

Lin Nan couldn't help wondering whether these brand sponsors ought to give him a commission.

In the end he discovered, miraculously, that because of him, the number of high-end brand sponsors recently coming to negotiate with Red Star Studios had increased yet again!

As New Year's Eve drew near, the festive atmosphere grew ever thicker.

Several highly anticipated domestic films also wrapped up one after another.

"Personal Tailor" closed at 713 million, "New Police Story 2013" had a total box office of 534 million — these two films were the top two of the Lunar New Year season.

At this point, the Spring Festival season was about to begin.

"Tonight's company gala — is Lin Dao coming?"

Lin Nan hadn't gone to the company for several days, because a great many media reporters were camped out downstairs.

Catching him once would have been enough, but these people just kept at it again and again, never tiring of it!

"Forget it. If I went, everyone would end up not enjoying themselves. Is everything lined up with South Korea?"

Hearing Lin Nan's question, Yue Jun laughed:

"Everything's set — T-ara, KARA, AOA, Girls' Generation, f(x), SISTAR, that's all of them, enough for a three-hour performance."

Perhaps thinking of something, Yue Jun continued to add:

"The Korean Wave is just too crazy right now — every major satellite channel's New Year's Eve show is boy bands and girl groups. It's only because our company invited them that these few girl groups specially rearranged their schedules."

Lin Nan nodded — what Yue Jun said was true.

The girl groups and boy groups from South Korea had practically swept the domestic market here, with countless fans, and the many entertainment companies on the mainland had no power to fight back.

After once more confirming with Yue Jun that the premiere arrangements for "Taking Mount Mount Weihu" were fine, Lin Nan hung up the phone.

Outside, the news in the film and television circle kept refreshing.

Yu Zheng personally did publicity for his new drama's opening ceremony, Brilliant Stars followed right behind, and the news quickly seized the headlines.

"Co-produced by CCTV, Dongyang Pictures and others, produced by Yu Zheng Studio, the period television drama 'Ban Shu Legend' officially started filming this morning at Hengdian World Studios."

"Jing Tian steps down from the big screen for the first time, taking on the lead female role of Ban Shu — looking forward to her wonderful performance."

When Lin Nan saw this piece of news he was momentarily stunned — in his mind he actually thought of the role of Princess Princess Nihuang from the earlier "Nirvana in Fire."

Seems like Miss Jing Tian could have done it too! After all, in "Warring States," she had played a female general!

"What a pity."

"Ban Shu Legend" had after all been a project locked in several months earlier, so when Lin Nan was casting "Nirvana in Fire," naturally he hadn't thought of her for the part.

Thinking it over carefully now, Miss Jing Tian really could have been a candidate for Princess Princess Nihuang — at least she's younger than Liu Tao!

"Truly a pity."

……

At 11 a. m., Liu Liu Yifei ran up to Lin Nan with a face full of smiles and asked him:

"Want to go out to eat with me? Someone's treating."

Lin Nan was a bit baffled: "Who? Treating you or treating me?"

"Obviously treating me, of course. At most you count as a family member — you can tag along to freeload."

Liu Liu Yifei said with a flower-like smile.

Seeing Lin Nan still looking puzzled, Miss Liu then explained with a laugh: "Xie Nan got her marriage certificate — she's treating everyone to a big meal."

Good lord — Wu Jing and Xie Nan just quietly got their marriage certificate like that? There hadn't been a whisper of it outside!

"Who's going?" Lin Nan asked.

"Just Liu Yan and the others. Mm, Xie Nan is treating on her own — the groom's side, I don't know."

Liu Liu Yifei blinked her eyes, looking at Lin Nan.

"Then I won't go — it's all women."

Lin Nan shook his head firmly. If he went, what would that look like? Really just like tagging along behind Liu Liu Yifei to freeload?

"Really not going?"

Liu Liu Yifei tilted her chin up slightly, putting on a threatening look.

"Not going." Lin Nan was very firm.

"Hmph, fine, don't go then — I'll go by myself, you can starve."

After saying that, Liu Liu Yifei led her little army, turned around with a tsundere flourish, and went off to change clothes.

Lin Nan watched her graceful figure walk away, smiled and shook his head: "Wu Jing moves pretty fast."

……

In the afternoon, Wu Jing and Xie Nan publicly announced the news of getting their marriage certificate on Weibo, making the film and television circle before New Year's Eve even livelier.

But the most eye-catching thing was still Zhang Zhang Yimou's "Coming Home" and Jiang Wen's "Gone with the Bullets," which also announced their wrap at the same time, entering post-production.

It could be foreseen in film circles that these two works from the great directors would surely be released within the year.

Other companies, when setting their release schedules, had to think carefully once again.

Lin Nan Pictures, Tiangong Colors, and Shanhai Media — for two years running, their galas had been boosted by multiple top-tier popular girl groups.

This kind of "grand spectacle" truly drew enormous attention from the entertainment circle and online, with quite a few media outlets stationed outside, cameras of every kind at the ready.

Weibo had already become a real-time updating platform.

"It's that time of year again for Lin Nan Pictures' annual gala — last year it was a screen full of long legs, and this year is no different! Brothers, look at the pics, watch the videos…"

"T-ara is sexier than Girls' Generation..."

"Nonsense, Yoona is the most beautiful!"

"f(x)'s leader Song Wan Qian, her flexibility is invincible!"

"I can take on ten..."

"Am I the only one who finds it strange? Why not invite a boy group? Super Junior, EXO... Lin Nan Pictures isn't short of money."

"Boy groups are too effeminate! Lin Dao doesn't like them."

"Someone upstairs, how can you speak like that? Don't insult our..."

"Stop arguing, stop arguing, focus on the legs, look at..."

Lin Nan glanced twice at the commotion in the media and on Weibo, then stopped looking; they were all just "perverts."

Most people in the industry were still marveling at Lin Nan Pictures' financial might, throwing away tens of millions again.

"Rest early; there's important business tomorrow."

After muttering that, Lin Nan decisively went to bed.

The next day.

Lin Nan was woken up by the alarm clock early in the morning.

Today's top headline in the film and television industry, no need to guess, was definitely Huayi Brothers' 20th Anniversary and Shareholders' Meeting; the annual gala was just a side event.

After all, Huayi Brothers was the first independent listed film and television company in the domestic industry, and now the leader among private film and television enterprises.

Ordinary company annual galas are usually held in the evening, which is more fitting and lively.

But obviously, Huayi Brothers' focus this time was the company's 20th-anniversary celebration and the shareholders' meeting, so it had to be held in the morning for a better omen.

Past nine o'clock, Lin Nan, dressed in casual wear, didn't bring an assistant but drove himself directly to the destination—the five-star hotel booked by Huayi Brothers.

Not to mention, Wang Wang Zhongjun and Wang Wang Zhonglei had put on quite a grand display this time.

Outside the hotel, besides banners, there was a twenty-meter red carpet, flanked by dense flower pots covering over a hundred square meters.

A large number of protocol young ladies and security personnel, along with dozens of media outlets, were busy outside the venue.

Film industry insiders, producers, and actor stars related to, cooperating with, or invited by Huayi Brothers entered one by one; most were big shots, including many from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Many people from the financial circle and internet companies were also mixed in among them.

"Lin Dao, congratulations. You must win a trophy at the Oscars in early March."

"Thank you, Director Xu, you are too polite."

Lin Nan arrived with Xu Ke and walked the red carpet together.

The two followed behind the protocol young ladies all the way to the decorated banquet hall.

Looking around, it was neatly arranged, with probably two or three hundred seats; on the main stage, a large screen and a podium were prepared well in advance.

Many people turned their heads, noticing Lin Nan and Xu Ke.

Lin Nan also clearly saw some industry figures; he could only say Huayi Brothers was indeed Huayi Brothers.

They had stopped signing new talents long ago; the artists present were at least third-tier and up.

The protocol young ladies inside the venue led Lin Nan and Xu Ke toward the first row.

Along the way, Lin Nan saw the Chadao Sect, Feng Feng Shaofeng, Chen He, Shu Qi, Liu Liu Jialing, Fan Wei, Bai Bai Baihe, Feng Feng Yuanzheng, Zhang Zhang Hanyu... no small-time stars.

In the first row, Zhang Zhang Jizhong and Feng Feng Xiaogang were to Lin Nan's left, and Gu Gu Changwei and Zhang Zhang Guoli were to his right; he could only chat a couple of sentences with Gu Gu Changwei.

About half an hour later, the venue was full, and Wang Wang Zhongjun and Wang Wang Zhonglei, invited by the host, walked onto the main stage.

"It's starting," Lin Nan muttered in his heart.

"Thank you all for coming to the Huayi Company 20th-anniversary celebration and the Huayi Group Shareholders' Meeting amidst your busy schedules."

"Early on when Huayi went public, we wanted to hold a meeting to discuss the group's development direction, but we just couldn't make up our minds."

"Until today, taking advantage of the 20th anniversary, we have decided to discuss Huayi Group's development plans with all shareholders, as well as industry and media colleagues..."

At this moment, a line of text appeared on the large screen:

"Moving away from a single-movie development path."

Instantly, a buzz of noise erupted on the stage, with everyone reacting differently.

"Moving away from a single-movie development..."

Lin Nan was also murmuring these words in his mouth, his expression somewhat strange.

To be honest, this path was really good; it could allow Huayi Brothers to walk on several more legs.

But there was a very core problem: actually implementing the "moving away from a single-movie development path" was easy to go astray, even leading to strong branches but weak trunks and losing the foundation.

Sure enough, Wang Wang Zhonglei up there began to get to the main point.

"Actually, since the company went public, we have been practicing 'moving away from a single-movie' strategy; we are just making it public to everyone today."

"In the three-plus years since going public, we have let go of over 70 artists with direct agency contracts with Huayi Brothers; all were second-tier and above. We will no longer do artist agency business in the future but will switch to a model of co-opening studios with artists."

"Film and television drama profits are limited, while production and artist operation costs are rising significantly. The artist agency business will be removed from the group's core businesses. In the future, we will intensify efforts to carry out 'moving away from a single-movie development'."

"Cultural towns, theme parks, tourism, games, the internet, finance, electronic products... these will become the group's new directions and main directions..."

Wang Wang Zhonglei spoke excitedly up there, while countless people below applauded just as excitedly.

Lin Nan heard something from Wang Wang Zhonglei's words: "strong branches but weak trunks" and "weakening the film and television sector" might not be Huayi Brothers' final outcome.

It was highly likely that while walking the "moving away from a single-movie development path," they would, as they walked, turn into a "moving away from movies development path," and the two words "single" would simply disappear.

Although he had mentally prepared himself, hearing Wang Wang Zhongjun and Wang Wang Zhonglei's "passionate speech" face-to-face, Lin Nan still felt somewhat dazed.

Huayi Brothers had gone public under the name of a film and television company; how much praise and expectation the government had given back then!

But now they were actually heading toward fields like real estate, finance, the internet, and games.

And from the looks of it, Wang Wang Zhongjun and Wang Wang Zhonglei were planning to use the film and television business as the "mother body," draining it to the bone to support the other "businesses," yet they didn't want to keep investing too many resources into the "mother body," and even wanted to cut it back!

"That's true too — real estate, the internet, finance, gaming — all those industries are booming, and they make money far faster and far more than making films and TV!" Lin Nan thought to himself, speechless.

A full hour and a half later, the most important segment — "diversifying away from a single focus on film" — had been finished.

Then, the once-a-year shareholder dividend distribution segment officially began.

Almost everyone knew that Lin Nan held a huge amount of Huayi stock, far more than Feng Feng Xiaogang, Zhang Zhang Jizhong, Zhang Zhang Guoli and the others, and over the years he had never sold any of it.

But when he once again received a stock dividend of as many as 1.2 million newly allocated shares, everyone couldn't help but feel a bit of shock, and also had one question:

"Just how many shares does Lin Nan have, to be able to get a dividend this big in one go?"

Still, this also proved another thing — Huayi really had made money in other fields, and "diversifying away from a single focus on film" was indeed the right call!

The final segment was Huayi's annual gala, and also the most grand and most lively banquet segment.

Lin Nan didn't stay long. After chatting for a while with Li Li Bingbing, Zhang Zhang Hanyu and a few others, he found an excuse and left.

…………

The financial market's reaction speed really was fast.

The morning of the day before yesterday, after Huayi's twentieth-anniversary celebration and shareholders' meeting had ended, that "diversifying away from a single focus on film" development roadmap also spread out along with it.

The result was that Huayi's stock price shot up at the news, and had already surged for two days in a row.

Liu Liu Yifei was stroking the fat orange cat, looking at Lin Nan sitting on the sofa opposite her, frowning one moment and lost in thought the next, and she couldn't quite make heads or tails of it.

"What's gotten into you today? The premiere of *Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy* is only a few days away — are you worrying about the box office?"

As she spoke, Liu Liu Yifei padded barefoot across the carpet in two or three steps right up to Lin Nan.

She used her own fair, warm hand to feel Lin Nan's forehead, then felt her own, and only then felt relieved.

"No fever?" Liu Liu Yifei muttered.

She saw Lin Nan lift his head and flash the girl a smile:

"How could I be worrying about the box office? Even if it flops, so what. I was just thinking about something earlier, and now I've already made up my mind."

"What were you thinking about?" Liu Liu Yifei sat down next to Lin Nan.

Lin Nan didn't answer directly, but instead asked back: "How about I give you a car? As a New Year's gift."

Liu Liu Yifei gave a sweet smile: "Mm, sure. What made you suddenly have this idea? It just so happens there's still one spot in my garage — no wait, you've got even more spots here, haha…"

Lin Nan didn't answer, but took out his phone and made a call; a few seconds later.

"Lin Dao?"

"Right now, at this very moment, what's the stock price?"

"Huayi's stock price has hit the daily limit up for two days in a row; right now it's 41.65. You have 14.86 million shares… are you looking to trade?"

"Trade."

Liu Liu Yifei's eyes went wide as she stared at Lin Nan — he's really buying a car?

Lin Nan raised an eyebrow at her, and got in return a light blink of the right eye from Miss Liu — a playful, flirtatious little wink.

"Are you planning to transfer the shares, or go through the secondary market?"

"Secondary market. 3.86 million shares."

"Understood, Lin Dao. Because the stock price is still rising, and we can't rule out the possibility that the gains will drop or the stock price will fall during the sell-off, so the final transaction amount will differ somewhat from the current estimate.

But Huayi's overall market is very strong, so the sell-off should be quick, and the final transaction amount will only be higher…"

"Mm, sell."

Lin Nan hung up the phone, looked at Liu Liu Yifei, and laughed:

"Lucky for me the Huayi stock in my hands isn't 5%, otherwise I'd have to make a public disclosure."

"Said I'd give you a car — and here it is, right? Tomorrow, we'll go take a look."

"Mm-hmm…"

Liu Liu Yifei rested her elbows on her legs, cupped her cheeks in both hands, and just like that gazed at Lin Nan, nodding away, her eyes seeming to sparkle with little stars, smiling like a silly little fool.

…………

(End of this chapter)