Chapter 479: Investment Share, Pushing for More

"'Ghost Blows Out the Light: Mojin: The Lost Legend'?" Director Wu Ershan muttered.

"That's right, you should know what kind of popularity the 'Ghost Blows Out the Light' series has. Just this name alone is worth at least 500 million in box office!"

Lin Nan said confidently. He still had this grasp.

"Lin Dao, what about casting?"

"Your job is director, responsible for directing and filming, the company will handle casting uniformly.

Additionally, I have internally decided some roles, and others have been taken for human favors."

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Director Wu Ershan understood; just like "Painted Skin 2" back then, he was just a pure director and didn't participate in casting.

"No problem, Lin Dao. I'll take this job."

Director Wu Ershan nodded; why not take a movie with a clearly high box office?

Only when the resume goes up can his own ideas be easier to realize.

"However, you don't have to worry. In the script background of 'Mojin: The Lost Legend', the protagonist team is already middle-aged.

When the company decides on the roles, it will definitely find suitable actors, and will absolutely not find shoddy goods."

Lin Nan looked at Director Wu Ershan and specifically added.

"Then Lin Dao, give me the script first, I'll go back and draw the storyboard."

Lin Nan took out the script of "Mojin: The Lost Legend" that had been prepared for a long time from the drawer and handed it over.

"Now I can't guarantee whether the Film Bureau will card the script or request modifications, but it doesn't affect you using this version."

"It really doesn't affect, just about the same is fine, at most change it later."

Half an hour later, Lin Nan had his assistant send Director Wu Ershan out of the company.

The latter's trip to Lin Nan Pictures today was truly caught by the media.

Alone in the office, Lin Nan's thoughts were very chaotic, one moment it was the review, the next it was the casting.

"Casting? Seems like there are quite a few suitable people around. The choice of main actors for the first 'Ghost Blows Out the Light' series film cannot be perfunctory..."

Just as Lin Nan was screening actors in the circle, a call came.

"Landline call?" He was energized.

"Hello?"

"Is this Lin Dao Nan?"

"It is."

"Lin Dao, this is the Film Bureau..."

Five minutes later, Lin Nan left the company and drove straight to the General Administration; he knew there would be trouble.

This book "Ghost Blows Out the Light" had been shouted and beaten by certain groups since it became popular, not to mention that it was now going to be adapted into a movie.

The people in charge of the review above were still making trouble as expected; it was a grave-robbing subject, and there were too many excuses to find.

These people held great power, and they didn't care whose company submitted the script; if they want to card you, they card you!

Lin Nan had psychological preparation early on; if "Mojin: The Lost Legend" passed the review at once, it would be abnormal.

After arriving at the Film Bureau, Lin Nan habitually walked toward Tong Gang's office.

But halfway there, he suddenly reacted; the latter seemed to have been promoted.

"That office, should have changed too?"

"Lin Dao."

At this time, a voice came from the opposite direction; it was the secretary of Director Tong before, it seems he was still following.

"Lin Dao, this way."

The other party probably saw Lin Nan's situation and pointed behind him with a smile.

Lin Nan shook his head lightly and walked over.

The office of the deputy director of the General Administration was indeed more magnificent than the director of the subordinate Film Bureau; this was Lin Nan's subconscious reaction.

"You're filming that grave-robbing movie yourself?"

Seeing Lin Nan, Tong Gang asked directly.

"Director Tong, I plan to let someone else film it."

It was said online very correctly, if Lin Nan went to film "Mojin: The Lost Legend," it would indeed be too low-grade. Besides making money, there is no other benefit.

"The review committee carded you, saying that filming this kind of movie might have a great negative impact, and even make many people follow suit and do illegal and criminal things."

Lin Nan was speechless; what a big hat!

"Then those old... teachers are purely looking for trouble! They definitely didn't finish half of the script.

The main line of 'Mojin: The Lost Legend' is not illegal and criminal activities, but chasing the mysteries of the past, exposing the crimes of the island nation... very positive energy!

I also plan to film a TV series later, but don't worry, I guarantee that whether it's a movie or a TV series, the protagonist team in the plot will absolutely not take a needle or thread from the tomb owner..."

Blah blah blah, Lin Nan and Tong Gang argued for nearly an hour, until his mouth was dry.

"Pour it yourself if you want water."

"Thank you, Director Tong."

Lin Nan wasn't polite either; being too polite would seem distant.

Only to see Tong Gang sitting behind the desk, frowning, as if thinking about something.

After a long time, he raised his head and looked at Lin Nan who was drinking water, and said:

"You really should have sent 'The Taking of Tiger Mountain' to the Shanghai International Film Festival or the Hundred Flowers Award, but you rejected both."

"Haha, I'll forget it. Just give me an Outstanding Film Award at the Huabiao Awards later." Lin Nan joked.

"Then you have a long wait. Just had a meeting, the next Huabiao will have to wait two years. But even if you don't want it, it's not up to you."

Lin Nan understood this; the nature of "The Taking of Tiger Mountain" was there, this trophy, you have to take it obediently even if you don't want it!

"Then 'Mojin: The Lost Legend'?" Lin Nan changed the subject.

"Go back, I will help you say hello. Now we really need a company like Lin Nan Pictures..."

The stone in his heart finally landed. Before Lin Nan could say a few more words of thanks, Tong Gang waved his hand at him; the director is very busy.

"The film 'The Invisible Guest' has been released for two weeks, with a total box office of 381 million, daily box office significantly reduced, dropping below 10 million."

"Directed by Director Zhang Yimou, starring Gong Li, Chen Daoming, Zhang Huiwen, 'Coming Home' grossed 250 million in two weeks..."

"Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' released for 7 days, box office strongly broke 400 million!"

In the film market, it can be described as bloody.

Those that can be reported in detail are either great directors' films or imported blockbusters, in short, all have good results.

Those domestic films that became cannon fodder were packed up and brushed over with spring and autumn brushwork.

After coming out of the General Administration, Lin Nan didn't return to the company, but went straight home.

What surprised him was that Liu Yifei didn't go out to play, but was introducing the cats and dogs she raised to Especially Reba in detail.

Which one is named what, which one eats the most, which one is most attached to her, which one is most attached to Lin Nan, and which one is laziest...

"You didn't go out?"

"Didn't go out long, was followed by a group of reporters, so I came back." Liu Yifei explained to Lin Nan.

"Hello, Lin Dao."

Lin Nan nodded at Especially Reba, not going up to join the fun. Because the phone came again, there were things everywhere during this period.

He walked to the pavilion in the garden, ready to sit and answer the call from Happy Mahua.

Regarding the preliminary budget for "Goodbye Mr. Loser," Yan Fei had already led people to make it.

And for things like asking for money, they felt it was better to tell Lin Nan directly, after all, it was a matter of tens of millions.

"Old Yan, are you sure 20 million is enough?"

"All are our own people, and it's not expensive. This is still budgeting the cost of outside actors, barely enough, right? And don't film any special effects shots..."

Yan Fei said with less and less confidence.

"I heard that after 'Bad Genius' was pulled from theaters, Liu Yifei's acting fee in the country reached 20 million, and there was even an extra box office share. When filming 'Passengers', the acting fee even reached 5 million USD..."

"Ma Li, if you had a boyfriend like Lin Dao to promote you for seven or eight years, you would also have a chance. Hmm, one in a thousand, haha..."

When a group of people were sighing and envious, the call went through.

Zhang Chen immediately made a shushing gesture.

"Lin Dao." 【47

"Chairman Zhang, is there something you need?"

Lin Nan had some guesses in his heart, but he still asked normally.

"We've finished the budget for *Goodbye Mr. Loser*. Let me talk to Lin Dao first, and let's set a time for our two companies to sit down and discuss the investment..."

"How much is it? There's no need to set a separate time for such small matters; we can just talk over the phone."

Lin Nan interrupted the other party.

Over at Happy Mahua, a group of people listening to Lin Nan's words on speakerphone were all dumbfounded.

"Small matter?"

A helpless smile appeared on Zhang Chen's face. He scanned his team members and saw Yan Fei suddenly gesturing.

"Three? Thirty million?"

Zhang Chen asked, mouthing the words, and Yan Fei nodded immediately.

"Lin Dao, the preliminary budget for *Goodbye Mr. Loser* is between twenty and thirty million. Twenty million is a bit tight, so..."

"Then let's make it thirty million."

Lin Nan made the final decision, making the people at Happy Mahua instantly excited.

"Then let's talk about the investment shares. How should our two companies divide them? Fifty-fifty?"

When this topic came up, Zhang Chen hesitated again. They had just received a 50 million investment from Lin Nan Film, and now they had to come up with 15 million?

He had been hoping for Lin Nan Film to take the lion's share, because for their first movie, Happy Mahua really couldn't guarantee they wouldn't lose money.

"Lin Dao, we just made an expansion plan for our theaters... How about a 1:2 ratio this time?"

Hearing this, Lin Nan sat up abruptly. Liu Yifei and Especially Reba in the distance both looked over, and he quickly waved his hand to indicate it was nothing.

"Does Chairman Zhang mean that Lin Nan Film puts up twenty million, and you put up ten million?"

Zhang Chen thought Lin Nan was angry, and Yan Fei and the others on the side thought the same.

"Yes, Lin Dao. Mahua is currently indeed..."

"That's fine."

"Wait until later we... That's fine? Does Lin Dao mean you can invest twenty million?"

"Yes, that's fine."

When Lin Nan's resolute voice came through, Zhang Chen, Yan Fei, including Shen Teng, Ma Li, Song Yang, and others couldn't have been more excited; this meant their acting fees wouldn't have to be pressed so low.

"Go find Yue Jun to sign the contract later; I will instruct him."

"Good, good, then thank you, Lin Dao. Another day we will definitely..."

After a few more minutes of pleasantries, the two sides hung up the phone.

Lin Nan looked at his phone, then looked at Liu Yifei and Especially Reba in the distance who were putting a leash on the dog, feeling quite good.

"Since you've chosen to make movies, you must have confidence in your own team, even if it's the first time!"

In the evening, news related to *Mojin: The Lost Legend* appeared in the media.

"Since *Painted Skin 2*, Director Wu Ershan has appeared at Lin Nan Film again, leaving several hours later."

"Director Wu Ershan walked out of the building holding a document bag, suspected to be a new collaborative project."

"The possibility that *Mojin: The Lost Legend* will be directed by Director Wu Ershan cannot be ruled out; the color atmosphere of *Painted Skin 2* is equally applicable to *Ghost Blows Out the Light*..."

Under Lin Nan's Weibo, there were nothing but comments from netizens, all asking who would direct *Mojin: The Lost Legend*, which actors would be chosen, when it would start filming...

People in the industry basically wouldn't ask on Weibo; they were all fighting openly and secretly behind the scenes.

"Alright, the role you want is no problem, and the screen time is quite substantial. However, the makeup and styling for the last few shots might be very scary; ask if she minds?

After all, at this age, still playing young girls on the TV screen, she should be very concerned about her image! Haha..."

Lin Nan joked with Jiang Wen.

"Damn you, speak properly. Back then, sigh, she was also a peerless beauty..." Jiang Wen started sighing as he spoke.

Lin Nan understood Jiang Wen's mood. Back then, the May-December romance, plus the affair and being a kept man, had caused quite a stir, and the aftermath was still dragging on; it was enough to write dozens of episodes of a TV drama.

"Since her role is no problem, how about you look at Xia Yu? I originally wanted to use him in *Gone with the Bullets*, but he stood me up in the end..."

"Damn you, give an inch and you'll take a mile!"

(End of chapter)