Chapter 539: Refusal, *The Great Wall*

Lin Nan's smiling counter-question made the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly become awkward.

"How can a director be scolded? Unless the film the director made is indeed a solid, universally recognized bad film!

But Lin Dao is not that kind of director. Your reputation has always been top-notch, whether it's film quality or box office appeal, they are all top-tier!"

After a few seconds of dead silence, Dong Ping continued to lobby.

Xu Zheng also nodded in agreement on the side; just a moment ago, he didn't know how to pick up Lin Nan's words, but fortunately, Dong Ping picked it up.

"Hehe, although Lin Nan Film Industry is not listed, I also clearly know that after a director finishes filming, they have to do promotion, marketing, and hype. Generally speaking, it's also a commodity.

And the operation of a listed company's film, does the director have the final say? No! A listed company means capital. And capital is profit-seeking, using all means. Ghost screenings, box office brushing, stock price hype, and then harvesting... repeated operations.

May I ask, how many listed companies can keep their original intention and not do this kind of quick-money operation? The public doesn't know the specific situation, they will only remember the director, because they all entered the cinema for the major director!"

Lin Nan was tired of talking, picked up the red wine on the table to moisten his throat.

"Xixi, when we go back in a while, you have to drive."

"Hmm, no problem."

Liu Yifei nodded with a smile; Lin Nan's words were truly too sharp!

At the dinner table, it was already a complete dead silence.

Ning Hao and Xing Aina were expressionless, but there was a struggle in their eyes.

While Dong Ping and Xu Zheng were speechless, at a loss for words for a while.

If a listed company doesn't do that, why list? Learn from Huayi to cross-industry into real estate, finance, and the internet?

Even if Joy wanted to do that, but starting so late, how could they keep up?

The first listed film and television company to eat crab was completely incomparable to later companies.

Not to mention Joy was equivalent to shell listing, while Huayi was direct IPO, the strength gap between the two was too disparate!

"Lin Dao's analysis is quite detailed, it seems you haven't thought less about the company listing?"

"If I didn't understand it clearly, how could I firmly not let Lin Nan Film Industry list? You have to know, from several years ago, there were plenty of capital throwing olive branches at me... including banks and Alibaba..."

Facing Dong Ping's somewhat sarcastic words, Lin Nan chose to retort head-on.

The Joy that 1 billion could buy, the biggest capital was actually their "major director alliance system." The more major director shareholders, the greater the influence, the higher the market value, and the simpler it would be to harvest...

Lin Nan looked at Ning Hao, the latter was a bit silent. He could understand the other party's thoughts; after all, becoming capital was having say, and Joy was Ning Hao's shortcut.

After the banquet, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei didn't choose to stay long, because today wasn't a pure gathering of friends. Ning Hao, Xing Aina, and Xu Zheng sent the two out the door.

"Keep your original intention."

Lin Nan patted Ning Hao on the shoulder, then got into the passenger seat.

"Hmm, don't worry. You will go to the charity dinner later, right? See you then."

"Hmm."

"Lin Dao, Yifei, see you another day."

Liu Yifei had already found a pair of her small white shoes from the trunk and changed into them; after all, she had to drive.

"We're leaving, bye-bye."

"Drive slowly, Yifei." Xing Aina reminded.

Until the black G-Wagon drove out of everyone's line of sight, Dong Ping walked out of the villa.

"I just went to the bathroom, why did Lin Dao go back? I was still saying to chat for a while."

Everyone knew this kind of perfunctory words, and didn't say anything.

"Since Lin Nan refused, then this matter ends here, don't bother him in the future." Ning Hao said.

"Good, then let's start with our three companies, and continue to develop other major directors later..." Dong Ping agreed decisively.

Xu Zheng echoed behind, the result today was too unexpected for him; he never thought Lin Nan would refuse.

Looking at it this way, it was Ning Hao and Xing Aina who guessed it right!

The advertising for *Running Man* had almost been carpet-laid, and the interest of netizens across the internet had been mobilized by several promotional clips.

Looking at the film market again, the most eye-catching one this month was Peter Chan's *Dearest* and Ning Hao's *Breakup Buddies* at the end of the month.

These two films were also only a few days away from public screening.

And once entering October, the market would fight even more fiercely.

Films like *The Golden Era* and *Black & White: The Dawn of Justice* were all waiting during the National Day period!

"The 26th, 'Whatever's' full-month wine; the 27th, Hundred Flowers Awards, has nothing to do with us; the 28th, *Breakup Buddies*' premiere... hmm, the nearest one is the Bazaar the day after tomorrow..."

After Liu Yifei returned home, she sat at the door and started counting her itinerary.

She didn't have much free time left; in October, she would most likely be running outside for a month, for the promotion of *Interstellar*.

And Lin Nan, at this moment, was scrolling through the news on the internet.

It seemed Director Wang was going to be like Huang Haibo, half a month later, another half a year!

"Tsk tsk tsk, the madam is only 18, one against two, and both are 30..."

Lin Nan felt a bit of sympathy for Western Film Group; after all, Director Wang was one of the few major directors who sold Western Film Group's face, and also one of the direct descendants.

Liu Yifei's phone rang suddenly; it was from Red Star Dock.

"Help me answer it." She shouted at Lin Nan.

"Hello?"

"Lin Dao, Warner has sent an email to the company, it's a very formal work email."

"Forward it to me."

"Okay, Lin Dao."

"What's wrong?"

After a while, Liu Yifei asked suspiciously.

Lin Nan feigned a sigh, "Come and see your latest work arrangement, Princess Xixi."

"Ah? Is it for *Interstellar*?"

Asking this, Miss Liu walked over from the door and took the tablet Lin Nan handed her.

"The 5th? So fast!"

"Hmm, it's the 5th." Lin Nan nodded to confirm.

Starting from October 5th, Liu Yifei had to run promotion with Nolan, Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, and others.

Moreover, the promotion for *Interstellar*'s crew started from North America and Europe, and finally rushed to the mainland market in late October and early November.

"Still can play at home for half a month, no rush."

Looking at Liu Yifei who was a bit "sad-faced," Lin Nan opened his mouth to comfort her with a smile.

"Hmm, can only be like this. Hurry and help me see, what to wear the day after tomorrow?"

"Wear whatever, you look good in anything."

"Hehe, I think so too."

China Film Group, Chairman's office.

"What kind of moths are they making again?"

Ren Zhonglun asked the secretary angrily.

"It's, they crossed out Director Ang Lee from the director list. Said Director Ang Lee is preparing to film a war movie and is pulling investment... not considering taking foreign films..."

"Hmm? He still needs to pull investment? He still lacks investment? Not joking, right?"

Hearing this, Ren Zhonglun laughed. An Oscar-winning director lacking investment, isn't that a joke!

"Heard the new film is about the Iraq War, no one in Hollywood is investing." The secretary also laughed.

"Hahaha, talking about freedom, isn't this typical lack of freedom?"

Ren Zhonglun mocked and nodded: "Then in that case, Lin Nan is the first one on the list."

"Chairman Ren, there is one more thing. Legendary sent the script outline over. The complete script, they will bring it together at the beginning of next month."

Taking the few sheets of A4 paper from the secretary, Ren Zhonglun flipped through them, nodding from time to time.

"*The Great Wall*! This name is good. Distinctive Chinese elements, only one in the world."

Ren Zhonglun was more satisfied the more he looked; this wasn't smaller than the formation (achievements) when Han Sanping was in charge, right? And it was filmed completely from the Chinese perspective!

Thinking of Ang Lee just now, Ren Zhonglun looked at the secretary, "Lin Nan doesn't have any film plans recently, right? Don't miss it again."

"Haven't heard, shouldn't be. Hollywood is about to enter the public relations time, Lin Dao shouldn't be distracted. Even if there is a new film plan, it will most likely be until next year."

"That's good, that's good."

When Ren Zhonglun was thinking of Lin Nan, the latter was answering Cao Baoping's phone call.

Worthy of being a senior professor in the system, asking questions was like playing a machine front.

"Do you think my film *The Dead End* can successfully meet the audience?"

Lin Nan wanted to say, but couldn't say it.

The release date was set, if he leaked the news, Cao Baoping would definitely temporarily withdraw the film for revision.

Director Tong strictly required confidentiality at the time, even using the word "discipline."

Think about what the administrative level of the General Administration is, who would dare to leak the meeting content of that kind of unit privately? Something big would happen!

"Professor Cao, don't make it difficult for me. Director Tong said that before National Day, the document will be officially issued. That is, at the end of this month, not many days left, you wait a bit longer. Hmm, this time didn't require confidentiality!"

"Fine, your mouth is quite tight! Then I'll wait another twelve days. In addition, the script for *Cock and Bull* can probably be given to you in December, prepare the funds..."

"This is absolutely no problem! Who in the Beijing Film Academy doesn't know, Professor Cao's script is never bad! Haha..."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Nan started to sigh.

Although the shots of Huang Bo, that good friend, were not many, the positive shots definitely couldn't appear, and most likely they would be cut, because the cost of finding someone to reshoot was clearly larger.

With the influx of the internet industry, the film and television circle seemed to be equipped with an engine, and the promotion channels exploded all at once.

TV series started talking about traffic, and actors were the same.

What is traffic, that is: exposure rate, topic volume, discussion degree, exposure degree...

And as a charity dinner full of entertainment nature, Bazaar, just met all the requirements of "traffic"!

Lin Nan could already predict that this year's Bazaar charity dinner would be unusual, and there would definitely be many "popular fried chickens"!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 540 =====