Chapter 481

"This is the script for *Mojin: The Lost Legend*; take it back and read it first. Filming won't start for a while, because there is still location scouting work to be done."

"*Running Man* will start recording before the movie starts filming, and in the later stages, it might even overlap with the filming time of *Mojin: The Lost Legend*; you need to be prepared to run between the two."

"As a permanent guest, the few months each year when you record *Running Man* will be your busiest time. You will need to rush between variety shows, various announcements, and acting contracts."

Lin Nan looked at Reba in front of him, nagging and instructing her.

Since he had planned the path of a "star" for her, he certainly couldn't use the set of requirements for an "actor" to demand things of her.

Rushing between venues, running announcements, facing the magnesium lights and cameras, being busy to the point of exhaustion, and even overlapping filming schedules—this was the normal performance of a star's career.

But the company team would also reasonably arrange work for Reba, allowing her to balance work and rest.

After all, the body is the most important thing; Lin Nan didn't want the artists in his company to become work machines without their own lives.

Reba held the script in her arms, nodding constantly, looking a bit silly. It made Liu Yifei beside her couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"She originally came to play with me today, but you turned it into work time, haha."

Hearing Miss Liu's complaint, Lin Nan realized he seemed to have said too much.

"I also just suddenly remembered these things when I saw her; there's no harm in instructing her in advance. Alright, I'll be going first."

"Yes, yes, that's right. Thank you, Lin Dao, thank you, Sister Yifei." Reba also hurriedly smiled and said.

Liu Yifei waved at her and then looked at Lin Nan, "Are you coming back at noon?"

"No, there's still a pile of trivial matters; I estimate lunch will be at Enlightened or China Film."

"Oh, then come back early in the afternoon."

Liu Yifei wrinkled her nose, arranging Lin Nan like a little wife.

"No problem."

Lin Nan nodded at her and then went out to the garage.

La Peikang had finally asked about the *Mojin: The Lost Legend* project.

Not just China Film, Shanghai Film, Western Film, and others had also contacted Lin Nan several times, and even Wang Zhonglei, Yu Dong, and others had sent words to inquire.

For a movie project that was highly likely to make money, everyone wanted to come up and get a piece of the pie.

"They're thinking quite beautifully, just daydreaming."

The "Sword Net Action" by the Copyright Bureau, the Cyberspace Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Public Security had only started a few days ago.

But judging from the information publicized, they had already swept away a large number of pirated video websites and arrested quite a few people.

Only now did the film and internet industries truly take a reassurance pill; the authorities were indeed taking real action!

In the morning, a piece of film news that should have been unremarkable attracted the attention of more than half of the film industry.

"Happy Mahua officially announces that the company's first movie *Goodbye Mr. Loser* has been officially approved for project, and casting is open starting today."

"It is reported that *Goodbye Mr. Loser* is adapted from Happy Mahua's original comedy stage play of the same name, with Lin Nan Film as the main investor and Happy Mahua as a co-producer and producer."

The abrupt news made major companies in the film industry and many filmmakers perk up.

Good grief, they were wondering why Lin Nan had inexplicably invested in a company that did stage plays; it turned out he was waiting here.

"*Goodbye*... *Mr. Loser*? What kind of name is this? Does it have anything to do with *Sherlock*?"

"Listening to the name, it sounds like a movie trying to ride on the coattails of others, but Lin Nan shouldn't invest in a bad movie, right?"

"A company that mainly does stage plays running in to make a movie—he's lost his mind this time! Does he really think that just anyone, any company, can make a movie?"

"Wait and watch the joke; the great director is going to stumble this time!"

"Small-budget comedy? Not a very good resource..."

The discussion among peers in the industry was quite loud; almost no one was optimistic about Lin Nan, and they all felt that he had jumped into the same pit at Happy Mahua twice in a row and would regret it to death sooner or later.

Even talent agencies and actors in the industry had no interest in this movie.

They subconsciously defined *Goodbye Mr. Loser* as a spoof movie or a bad movie, and the unknown production team was the evidence.

Lin Nan flipped through the messages constantly popping up on his phone and the comments on Weibo, unable to help but laugh.

Many acquaintances were joking, saying that Lin Nan had embarked on the path of a leader and started supporting small companies.

Huang Bo and a few other old hands even joked that when they had saved up a script and wanted to be directors, they would look for Lin Nan to pull investment.

"Regardless of how others see it, in the eyes of the authorities, your investment and support for Happy Mahua is very good."

La Peikang put down the cup in his hand and said affirmatively.

"I didn't think that much."

"Outside of state-owned enterprises, among private enterprises, this should have been something that Huayi, as the leader, should have done.

Back then, the policies and support from above, including the green light for listing, gave them so much, just to cultivate a benchmark for private enterprises.

And what happened? Now they've run off to engage in finance, real estate, and invest in the internet... thinking only of capital operations, they've forgotten their original intention."

La Peikang said a bit much today; perhaps he had attended some meeting recently.

Lin Nan didn't take the bait, because Huayi could truly be considered to be at its zenith right now.

Their conquest in the three fields of real estate, finance, and the internet made their stock price change every day, continuing to rise.

Lin Nan was also planning to sell off another portion of stock in two months, striving to clear his position completely before the end of next year.

"How many companies are there for *Mojin: The Lost Legend* now?"

"Me, Enlightened, and Wanda, plus China Film, that makes exactly four, just like *The Taking of Tiger Mountain*."

The cooperation of the four companies had already formed a tacit understanding.

Lin Nan still politely declined Shanghai Film, Western Film, and the others; as for the others, he was too lazy to even pay attention to them.

La Peikang nodded; Lin Nan counted as one of China Film's own.

Looking back now, he really admired Han Sanping's decisiveness back then, forcing people to be pried away from Shanghai Film step by step and tied down.

A few days ago at the Film Bureau meeting, *The Taking of Tiger Mountain* was mentioned with high frequency in China Film's report, which was very ear-piercing.

Of course, it was piercing to the ears of the other companies, especially Shanghai Film.

The thing Ren Zhonglun regretted most in these few years was probably *Painted Skin 2* from before.

Since that time, Shanghai Film had completely disappeared from Lin Nan's film investors.

"Once the budget is made, just let me know. For such a hot project, China Film won't take much advantage. But the help in terms of release slots and screen allocation will definitely not be lacking."

La Peikang stopped at the point, and Lin Nan understood; China Film only wanted a ticket this time, not a first-class cabin.

"Hmm, no problem." Lin Nan responded immediately.

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and the media began to review May and look forward to June.

"As of the end of May, *The Invisible Guest* has successfully broken 400 million at the box office, reporting 420 million, with a daily box office still at six million."

"Director Zhang Yimou's work, starring Gong Li, Chen Daoming, and Zhang Huiwen, *Coming Home* has reached a cumulative box office of 275 million, with a daily income of three million."

"*X-Men: Days of Future Past* continues to advance triumphantly at the box office, currently having reaped 500 million."

"*Overheard 3* reported 151 million in its first 4 days, with the daily box office plummeting..."

"A new round of Hollywood blockbusters will be released one after another starting from the 6th; domestic films are under doubled pressure, and the possibility of the box office being cut in half or even being forced out cannot be ruled out."

After having lunch with La Peikang at China Film, Lin Nan left.

The leader's private meal was still as simple yet luxurious; it was really hard for the people in the cafeteria.

Entertainment news was being broadcast on the car radio.

Angelababy was also really daring in her interview; when asked by a reporter about how she got along with Huang Xiaoming, she actually stated directly that during their time together, the other party was always acting like a loser, while she was the goddess.

Lin Nan was driving and felt a bit moved and wanted to laugh when he heard this; Huang Xiaoming really liked someone to the point of being humble.

Suddenly, Lin Nan remembered that Huang Xiaoming seemed to have sent him a message before, inquiring about *Mojin: The Lost Legend*, but the script hadn't been approved yet at that time.

"In terms of audience appeal, the leader is much better than that old classmate of his, and he looks more masculine; why not try him?"

After pondering for a while, Lin Nan decided to seriously consider this matter after going back.

He didn't actually have many friends in the industry, and in *Mojin: The Lost Legend*, the protagonist team was set to be middle-aged.

There really weren't many people who met the requirements for this age and temperament. Thinking carefully, Huang Xiaoming was actually quite suitable.

Liu Yifei updated her Weibo with a selfie of the two of them at lunch.

As the big sister, she took the initiative to bring along Reba, the newcomer.

It was just that this photo looked like it was taken by Miss Liu; the level wasn't very good, yet she was always tireless.

They were clearly two beauties, but they were downgraded by the shadows and angles.

Other people's selfies were all about adjusting their looks to be higher; Liu Yifei just didn't take the usual path, always self-deprecating, and this time she even implicated Reba.

But even so, there were still waves of praise under the Weibo post!

In the basement of the company building, after parking the car, Lin Nan liked Liu Yifei's Weibo and commented: "Producer Liu is a feast for the eyes!"

At this moment, a call suddenly came in; it was from the *Running Man* project team.

"Speak, what is it?"

"Lin Dao, we followed your instructions and communicated with Zhao Wenzhuo and Zhang Jin."

"Hmm, have you already received a reply?"

Lin Nan asked, thinking it was quite fast!

"Lin Dao, currently only Zhao Wenzhuo has replied; Zhang Jin hasn't replied yet, but..."

"Speak if you have something to say; how did he reply, did he agree or is there something else?"

Lin Nan nodded and responded to the receptionist and several employees, walking toward the elevator.

"Zhao Wenzhuo called personally, saying that his personality is relatively straightforward, and sometimes his emotional intelligence isn't enough and he easily offends people..."

Listening to the *Running Man* project manager's words, Lin Nan had a bottom line in his heart.

Zhao Wenzhuo didn't hide anything and stated all his own shortcomings.

He even said directly that his personality and habits over these years were those of a martial artist, and he couldn't let go of his face and pride, and couldn't bring himself to play and make a scene.

"That's very sincere! Haha..."

Lin Nan joked with a smile.

It seemed that Zhao Wenzhuo had indeed seriously analyzed *Running Man*, and compared it with himself, he discovered the problem.

"It is indeed very sincere, the call came from him personally, not his agent.

But it's understandable, after all, Lin Dao, you gave him the opportunity; *Kung Fu Jungle* and *Ip Man 3* are both top-tier resources."

A burst of flattery came from the other end of the phone, "I reckon he will come to tell Lin Dao personally later."

Lin Nan nodded subconsciously and walked into the office:

"Alright, I know. Since that's the case, then forget it. You continue to screen..."

"Very well, Lin Dao."