Chapter 664: *Asura*; Director La... it's *Pacific Rim 2*! Western Film Group, it's worth it

The last time the investment shares for *Operation Meigonghe* were divided, the person representing Wanda to Lin Nan Film Industry was still Ye Ning;

Unexpectedly, eight months had passed, and things had changed.

On the 12th floor of Enlight Media, in Wang Changtian's office.

Lin Nan looked at the "newcomer" sent by Wanda with a smile and greeted him:

"So, is Liu Zong now the president of Wanda Cinema Line, concurrently in charge of the film company?"

Liu Xiaobin smiled and nodded, his posture slightly lowered:

"Yes, after Ye Zong left, I was transferred from the position of CFO of the Commercial Real Estate Group to the Executive President of the Cinema Line, concurrently managing Wanda Film."

Come to think of it, I joined the group two years earlier than Ye Zong; I joined in 2000, and he in 2002, but Ye Zong is indeed more capable than me; over the years, he has held several important positions:

Group Director, Vice President of Wanda Culture Group, President of Wanda Cinema Line, General Manager of Wanda Film, Chairman of the Distribution Company, Director of AMC Cinema Line...

This isn't it; after this incident happened, the group was quite shaken; several executives were transferred before they could barely take over the work that Ye Zong used to do alone..."

Lin Nan and Wang Changtian looked at each other implicitly, both sighing in their hearts:

Good heavens, is Old Wang once bitten, twice shy? He actually decentralized power directly, not allowing a second Ye Ning to appear!

"First meeting, still have to congratulate Liu Zong; you can be considered a promotion." Wang Changtian joked and changed the subject.

"Haha, this kind of thing is hard to say so directly. But, please take care of us in the future, Lin Dao and Chairman Wang; we have been allies and partners for many years.

In addition, Chairman Wang asked me to send his regards to the two of you; the relationship between Wanda, Lin Nan Film Industry, and Enlight Media will not change in any way because of Ye Ning's departure, it will only become closer..."

Liu Xiaobin picked up his teacup and said with a smile. Lin Nan and Wang Changtian both nodded and also raised their cups.

"Lin Dao, Chairman Wang, let's talk about business next? When I received the notice from Chairman Wang, I was very much looking forward to it; this is the first major project after I took office!"

"I'll host at noon; you two don't be polite. I already had people arrange it before I came; let's set off in a while..."

Lin Nan and Wang Changtian did not refuse, sighing that he was indeed one of the executives who could be sent by Old Wang to take over the core positions previously held by Ye Ning; his emotional intelligence, worldliness, and posture were all-encompassing!

"Then let me talk about it."

Lin Nan spoke, and Wang Changtian and Liu Xiaobin instantly became serious.

"The budget for *Pacific Rim 2* is 165 million USD. Western Film Group's original share was 5%, but it was changed to 10% this morning.

Of course, I also intended to help them; their current situation is indeed too terrible, so the shares that Wanda and Enlight Media can distribute are only 25%, split in half."

Hearing Lin Nan say this, although Wang Changtian was a bit regretful, he was still very happy; after all, this was a change for Enlight Media from 0 to 12.5%:

"Very good, Enlight Media will prepare the funds as soon as possible in the next two days and wait for the notice."

Compared to Wang Changtian, Liu Xiaobin was in a state of complete excitement;

Because when *Pacific Rim 1* was made, Wanda had a 10% share, and now it had 2.5% more; this was undoubtedly his credit.

"It's fine, Wanda has absolutely no problem. When it comes to global distribution and scheduling, we will definitely 'do our best'!"

Before long, the three of them walked out of Enlight Media laughing and talking, followed by several accompanying staff.

Until the meal, everyone still tacitly did not mention the other producer in China during *Pacific Rim 1*—China Film Group!

In the afternoon, Jiaxing Media.

The call was made directly to Yang Mi, not to Ceng Jia, Yang Mi's manager.

"From these few days until before May Day, any promotional activity during the period cannot be missed; this is a bit too harsh, right?"

Ceng Jia was not very happy, her tone carrying thick complaints and unwillingness.

Yang Mi was silent, frowning as she looked at the "promotional itinerary" sent by Xue Xiaolu;

After a long time, she forced herself to cheer up, swept away her fatigue, and said to Ceng Jia:

"Jiajia, just communicate with the two crews according to this itinerary. On days with promotional itineraries, don't enter the crew.

Announcements that conflict with the promotional itinerary should also be staggered as much as possible; they can be arranged at other times on the day of the promotional activity; it's nothing more than being a bit tired from rushing around, it's nothing."

Hearing Yang Mi say this, without delaying anything, Ceng Jia had no objections and was relieved:

"Okay, I will communicate with the crew and the organizers later; it should be no problem."

After the stone in her heart fell, Ceng Jia looked at Yang Mi, who was clearly a bit tired, and then reminded her:

"There is still a brand banquet in the evening; why don't you sleep for two hours first?"

"Mm, I'll sleep for a while. I thought that if there could be a hit, maybe I could complete the gambling agreement ahead of schedule; now it seems I should prepare to keep being this busy;

But it doesn't matter, the 300 million gambling agreement is still no problem. If a popular first-tier star like me works so hard, and our company can't earn 100 million a year, then it's really sorry for this status..."

Yang Mi said listlessly; not to mention whether the sleep time was enough, the continuous work was indeed wearing down her spirit.

The art exam for the 2016 class of the Beijing Film Academy had ended successfully, but the school was still in a state of clamor.

After all, the final list had not been announced yet, and all the final-round candidates couldn't help but come to the school to look around; the Central Academy of Drama and the Shanghai Theatre Academy were the same;

In addition, the number of art candidates who fell in the first few rounds of the art exam and were now aiming for related majors in vocational colleges was also not small;

This retreat was also a single-plank bridge for thousands of troops... If one could pull some strings, that would be the best.

Lin Nan received a call from Old Jiang again. According to the school's process, the other associate professors had begun to submit their papers and works one after another in preparation for the subsequent defense session.

Although he had special treatment, he still had to keep this matter in mind and needed to prepare the copy of *Operation Meigonghe* in advance...

China Film Group.

"Since the script for *The Founding of an Army* has been sent to the bureau for review, then let's officially announce the project in a few days.

Before Army Day, the all-star cast selection, the location scouting and selection for the film, the adjustment of the actors' schedules... these all require a lot of time.

Notify Director Liu Weiqiang and the others that these four or five months will be busy..."

"Okay, Chairman La."

The secretary nodded immediately in response, but a trace of hesitation appeared on his face, not knowing whether it was intentional or unintentional.

"What's wrong? If you have something to say, say it."

La Peikang understood his secretary, and after a glance, he questioned him.

Hearing this, the secretary didn't hesitate anymore and immediately talked about the morning's matter:

"Chairman La, I saw people from the Western Film Group production department at the Film Bureau this morning.

Guess what, Western Film Group actually submitted the filing materials for a co-production film and asked for a green channel, requesting approval within two months..."

Sure enough, before the secretary finished speaking, La Peikang's eyes widened, and the pen in his hand stopped.

He looked up, his expression one of disbelief, and asked:

"They have money to make a co-production? Have this courage? What film? Who are they co-producing with?"

"I inquired, but Wang Dong of the Co-production Management Office kept it secret from me and didn't reveal anything.

However, I saw Director Zhang of Western Film Group from afar, and his demeanor seemed very excited, very happy, with a kind of ecstatic, agitated expression?"

A flash of light shone in La Peikang's eyes; as the helmsman of the domestic film and television industry, his sense of smell was still quite sensitive;

He was rejected by Ning Film Group some time ago; didn't expect Western Film Group to have good things too?!

Immediately, La Peikang picked up the landline on his desk, found a number, and dialed it. A few seconds later, it connected, and after some pleasantries, he hung up.

He looked at the secretary: "You go to the Film Bureau again; this time you can enter the Co-production Management Office... Call me the first time you see Western Film Group's project.

I am also very curious; with that little family background, what kind of co-production film can they still toss about? When necessary, we can also help, hehe..."

Just after the secretary left, Han Sanping's call came through.

"Okay, thank you, Han Dong. No need to send it personally... Idle is idle, I'll go over and sit for a while..."

In the study belonging to Han Jiamei, there were many papers scattered on the table, all drafts similar to character biographies.

The sound of typing on the keyboard was incessant; write and delete, delete and write, she strived to make the text the most simple, sincere, and profound.

But after all, it was her first time writing a film script, and for her, the challenge and difficulty were really very, very great.

"Oh my, I've been losing hair recently; I have to rest for a few days and change my mood."

Scratching her head, Han Jiamei muttered speechlessly.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, she had a video call with Liu Yifei and Shu Chang, wanting to make a dinner appointment, but it was difficult;

One of them was in the crew and wouldn't have a holiday in the short term, and the other went to visit the crew and would play for another day before returning.

She called Lin Nan, wanting to ask for advice on writing a script, but ended up being ridiculed!

Saying something like writing a script is like the several schools of acting; the experiential school is the truest and most natural, and also the most direct;

Actors project all their emotions into it, they are the character, and what they act is themselves; and writing a script can be the same, what is written is also "themselves";

He also suggested that she, a "newbie," could refer to the "experiential school" like this; the script written would definitely be the most heartfelt!

Just as Han Jiamei was complaining about Lin Nan in her heart, there was a knock on the door: "Jiamei, your Uncle La is here; come out and say hello, be polite."

Hearing Old Han's voice, Little Han immediately responded. Although she was careless, she still had the necessary politeness, and it was never lacking.

Before long, when Han Jiamei came downstairs, she saw La Peikang and Han Sanping drinking tea in the living room, chatting about *The Founding of an Army*.

There was also a document bag in front of the two, and without guessing, she knew it was the film proposal made by Old Han.

"Jiamei, I heard you stay in the study writing scripts all day? What kind of script are you writing? Tell us, and Uncle La will invest in it for you." La Peikang looked at Han Jiamei with a smile.

"If you ask again, she won't say it. She doesn't even tell me; she doesn't even let me enter her study door." Han Sanping held his tea and mocked himself.

"When I finish it, everyone will know. As for finding investment and such, I have my own plans; I don't need Uncle La to worry."

Han Jiamei sat down beside Han Sanping with a smile and added tea for the two.

"Well, having your own ideas is a good thing!"

La Peikang nodded and praised. Then he looked at Han Sanping and said to Han Jiamei:

"I was just telling your father; do you want to be an assistant director for *The Founding of an Army* crew? This is a main melody film, and it will only be good for your resume..."

"I was an assistant director for *The Taking of Tiger Mountain* before; I don't need another main melody film; the addition of *The Founding of an Army* to my resume should... be almost zero, right?"

There, the careless Han Jiamei, with a thoughtless sentence, instantly choked La Peikang; he was a bit embarrassed because *The Founding of an Army* probably, in all likelihood, really couldn't compare to *The Taking of Tiger Mountain*!

"You girl, how are you talking? Treating kindness as a donkey's liver and lungs?"

Han Sanping retorted angrily, but that was all.

"Don't talk about her; since she has no ideas, then forget it."

La Peikang was not angry; the main thing was that he understood Han Jiamei's personality. At their status and position, it was rare to have a younger generation who "speaks the truth," and her being boisterous was quite good!

Han Jiamei was about to speak with a smile, but at this moment, La Peikang's phone rang. The movement instantly attracted the attention of Han Sanping and Little Han.

Shanghai Film Group.

Ren Zhonglun tapped his fingers on the table lightly, his eyes narrowed as he looked directly at the marketing manager in front of him, "Say it again, are you sure?"

"Chairman Ren, I'm sure. Ning Film Group's big production is called *Asura*, the investment budget is over 100 million USD, and it is almost entirely funded by Ning Film Group. Currently, it is in the preparation work before project approval, including special effects modeling...

I heard that in all likelihood, it will be officially announced and cast in the middle of the year, and filming will start in the second half of the year... Western Film Group and China Film Group had ideas before, but were sternly rejected, especially Western Film Group; they didn't even know what the film was before they were dismissed."

At this moment, Ren Zhonglun's face already had a playful expression.

"Over 100 million USD! Is this burning the bridges? We have to think carefully if we want to play like this; they are quite wild and decisive! Have they never thought about what to do if they mess it up, can they bear the consequences? Hmm, do they have that much money?"

"It seems, should have asset mortgage? They all started as old-fashioned film studios, especially Ning Film Group; they own quite a lot of land and property."

"Heh, that's all the family background they have! They would rather mortgage than accept our kindness, right?"

Ren Zhonglun said speechlessly, quite looking down on them.

Because there is a saying that goes well: the more people who can burn their bridges, the more it proves they have "nothing" or are in a "difficult situation"!

"Chairman Ren, there is one more thing." The marketing manager interrupted Ren Zhonglun's train of thought.

"You weren't specifically sent to contact Ning Film Group, were you? Any other gains?"

Looking at the expression of his subordinate, Ren Zhonglun asked suspiciously.

"Chairman Ren, I also have a few friends at Western Film Group. I heard this afternoon that they submitted filing materials for a co-production film..."

Hearing the three words "co-production film," Ren Zhonglun sat up straight, energized, and asked: "What film? Who are they co-producing with?"

"Chairman Ren, it is... it seems to be..."

"What did you say?"

La Peikang roared almost excitedly, the veins on his neck could be faintly seen, his eyes wide open, with bloodshot veins.

Han Sanping and Han Jiamei on the side saw it in their eyes and remained silent, because the father and daughter heard the voice on the phone clearly.

Not only did they hear it clearly, but at the end of August last year, right at home, the father and daughter had already heard Lin Nan mention it.

At that time, Han Sanping invited Lin Nan to his home to show his cards, explicitly stating that he would attend the Golden Rooster Awards, and also invited Lin Nan to direct *The Founding of an Army*.

But Lin Nan's attitude toward the two things was: the former didn't matter, anyway he wasn't going; the latter was a refusal, because there was no "nutrients"!

And when Lin Nan left, he specifically said one sentence: Next year, Crystal Film Industry will restart the *Pacific Rim* series and make a sequel.

At that time, Han Sanping didn't understand what it meant and didn't know why Lin Nan said this sentence, so he was ridiculed by Han Jiamei;

Finally, the "leaky cotton-padded jacket" "translated" it:

"You said the Golden Rooster thing first, and my Senior Brother Lin said he wasn't going; but he mentioned the *Pacific Rim* sequel right after; isn't the meaning very obvious? It's five words: China Film Group, don't come either!"

On the other end of the phone, the secretary said tremblingly:

"Chairman La, Chairman La, the co-production film submitted by Western Film Group is... is *Pacific Rim 2*! The specific filing information, the producers and such... are not allowed to be seen."

The living room was so quiet it was deathly silent; Han Jiamei could even hear La Peikang's somewhat heavy breathing.

She lowered her head, trying to minimize her presence, while muttering in her heart: "He won't get sick from anger, right? Don't..."

"He, he didn't greet us at all, didn't reveal a word, and he just decided on the project like this? Decided on a co-production film project!?"

La Peikang gritted his teeth, almost "biting" out every word.

At this moment, a nameless fire rose in his heart, a breath was stuck in his chest, and the whole person was at the critical point of eruption!

China Film Group had 20% in the first part, and in the second part, it was just kicked out like this? Kicked out!

"Chairman La, should we go and ask Lin Dao... just filed, there should, there should still be... opportunity, right."

The secretary could clearly feel La Peikang's anger at this moment, so he spoke cautiously, not daring to say too much.

La Peikang did not respond; he hung up the phone directly.

Looking at him at this time, he was already covered in frost, and his aura was even more chilling; he was completely in a posture of no strangers allowed.

"Han Dong, you heard it too; I have to go back... deal with this matter tomorrow."

La Peikang suppressed his emotions and said goodbye to Han Sanping expressionlessly, but the demeanor of the latter and Han Jiamei let him see some "clues."

"*Pacific Rim* is currently the most successful Sino-foreign co-production film; Han Dong was commended by the bureau at the time, but China Film Group has now been kicked out of the sequel! Han Dong, why don't you look surprised at all? And Jiamei?"

"I..."

After all, she was young; Han Jiamei couldn't help but want to speak, but she immediately reacted and looked at her own father; this was her backer, her harbor.

La Peikang stared at Han Sanping, only to see "Vulture" calmly pick up the teacup:

"I knew it last year, but what can I do? Lin Nan's temper, he is very easy to talk to when he is easy to talk to, but once he makes up his mind, ten cows can't pull him back. Yifei doesn't get involved in these things, and more importantly..."

Han Sanping looked at La Peikang, his tone heavier: "More importantly, there is more than one state-owned enterprise in China! Western Film Group, it's worth it."

In the living room, it was deathly silent again; La Peikang seemed not to have heard Han Sanping's words.

"Han Dong, I'll go first. China Film Group will not give up on this matter."

After a long time, La Peikang said coldly. He picked up the document bag on the table and turned to walk toward the villa gate.

Han Jiamei followed with great discernment, wanting to see him off, but La Peikang remained indifferent until the sound of the car starting up twenty seconds later, and then she returned to the living room.

"Dad, Uncle La is?"

"Sigh, don't worry about him. He was quite good when he first took office; it's only been two years and a half; greed for merit, conservative, no responsibility... the shortcomings of being thin and cold, all popped out at once.

No one owes him anything; everything is mutual. Any major capital or film and television giant in the industry will not be affected by leaving China Film Group, let alone Lin Nan!"

Han Sanping drank tea, mercilessly "criticizing" La Peikang.

The Huayi of the past could backstab Han Sanping who supported them, and they were not afraid of China Film Group at all, let alone the Lin Nan Film Industry of today!

"Then, I'll go and give Senior Brother Lin a call and say something." Han Jiamei muttered and went upstairs.

Looking at his own daughter's figure, Han Sanping smiled; her attitude was truly clear, very good.

There were a few bags of cat food and dog food at the villa entrance; Lin Dao was feeding them.

Even when she was in Hengdian, Liu Yifei couldn't let go of these little things and specifically made a video call to remind Lin Nan.

"I, a dignified big director, have had an extra job as a zookeeper since I fell into your hands."

"Oh my, you should just be happy, hehe..."

... ===== CHAPTER 665 =====