Chapter 771: Official Script, Next March

On National Day, the passenger flow at the Capital Airport was naturally self-evident, a sea of people, shoulder to shoulder.

But even in this situation, a group of paparazzi could still lock onto their target lens in an instant—their olfactory sensitivity was directly maxed out.

"Good fellow, is it really a big fish?"

"What else could it be if it's not a big fish, to let China Film Group send several cars to pick them up?"

"It's Ang Lee... Director!"

As an entertainment reporter saw clearly who was being picked up, the rest of the paparazzi instantly became excited.

*Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk* is the first big director's film to be released in November and December. Ang Lee returning to the country now is completely reasonable.

"Go, block them..."

"I heard Director Lee is going to 'Huashan Sword Debate' at the Film Academy on the 2nd of next month. Which of you got the admission ticket?"

"What Huashan Sword Debate, that's the 'Big Director Film Forum'!"

"Speaking of which, protests have already started online this morning. It is estimated that the Lotte Group's business in our country will all have to..."

"You guys talk too much nonsense, chase quickly... Director Lee... Director Lee..."

After notifying Wang Changtian and the others, Lin Nan and Liu Yifei continued to stay at home. There were too many people outside today, not suitable for going out to stroll.

As for the hot search about Ang Lee arriving in Beijing online, Lin Dao couldn't not see it even if he wanted to; after all, the commotion was so big, being chased and shouted at by a bunch of paparazzi at the airport, it attracted a huge wave of eyeballs!

"This seems to be the first time your film has overlapped with Director Lee's film in the schedule. Hmm, looking forward to it." Liu Yifei chatted while flipping through Lin Nan's storyboard drafts.

"Director Ang Lee has never been a big commercial director. Even his highest-grossing film, *Life of Pi*, is an art-house film;"

"So what if there is an overlap? What's more, it's not a direct overlap, but staggered by 17 days. The opponent of *Operation Meigonghe* is only commercial films in the same slot."

Speaking of this, Lin Nan couldn't help but think of the words Director Zhang from the Golden Shield hinted to him:

"It's hard for ordinary people to have a family reunion all year round, so don't let this kind of 'serious' mainstream commercial film destroy the Spring Festival atmosphere... release it on November 28th."

"He said he wouldn't 'destroy' the Spring Festival atmosphere, so he wouldn't destroy it... And Spring Festival is January 28th!"

This year's New Year slot game, Lin Nan could be considered to have entered the competition with an "official script." Wasn't he just in a calm posture, sitting on the fishing platform and planning strategies?

"What are you laughing at? Inexplicable." Liu Yifei looked at the slightly raised corners of Lin Nan's mouth, very puzzled.

"What am I laughing at? I'm laughing that although *Operation Meigonghe* is still nearly two months away from release, it already obtained a one-month extension key half a year ago!"

Lin Nan raised his eyebrows at Liu Yifei and told her this for the first time.

Sure enough, Miss Liu's eyes widened a bit, her expression was quite shocked, and then a knowing smile appeared on her face; she instantly figured out everything... feeling honored and very happy.

Following *Youth* officially starting casting on the 1st, *Hidden Man* also released an audition announcement on the morning of the 2nd, with auditions starting on the 5th.

Once the news came out, the film and television industry could be said to have boiled over directly. Two big directors selecting roles for new films at the same time, for actors in the industry, isn't this the biggest "National Day gift"?

Its heat was so great and its attention so high that the circle completely ignored the film information that *Wolf Warrior 2* had started filming again.

That's right, Wu Jing started filming the domestic scenes of *Wolf Warrior 2* on the second day of National Day without stopping;

And Liu Yifei, as the main producer, also went to the scene early in the morning with Xie Nan to visit the crew and watch the start of filming!

In the film and entertainment industry, there is no such thing as a fixed holiday. The more it is a statutory holiday, the busier and more prosperous the film and television industry is, because this is a good slot.

Look, he was joking with Wang Wei the day before yesterday, saying there would be no overtime for the first three days of National Day; but this was only the second day, and Lin Nan ran to the company.

"Lin Dao, these are the documents to be signed, this is the financial report as of the end of September, these are all the invitation letters for the next two months, including premiere and event invitations."

"Also, the director forum held by Director Ang Lee and China Film Group at the Film Academy sent another invitation email today. This time there is a specific activity process and guest list..."

Sitting in the office, looking at the assistant's introduction one by one, Lin Nan had a headache, "I know, I'll read it slowly, you come to get the documents when it's almost noon."

"Okay, Lin Dao."

After the assistant responded, he left the office immediately; this was also what Lin Nan meant, the former didn't need to wait here.

"Good fellow, the tax to be paid this year is actually not less than last year?" Lin Nan looked at the report and was startled.

Although because the settlement time was delayed by two months, the box office profits of *Mojin: The Lost Legend* and *Detective Chinatown* were all counted in this year;

But even adding *Sleepless in Seattle 2* and *Cock and Bull* and *I Belonged to You* which haven't been taken off the screen yet, the total box office profit this year couldn't be more than last year! Hmm, *Operation Meigonghe*, according to convention, will be next year's revenue.

Lin Nan flipped through the report and found the problem before long.

Four artist studios, no, to be precise, it should be two female artist studios; they created huge profit sharing for Shanhai Media in these 9 months.

Especially naming Reba, her commercial announcements, advertisements, and endorsements have increased several times... she can be called a walking money-making machine!

"Artist brokerage business... no wonder not many companies are willing to give up this business, it's truly becoming more and more perverted."

"Lin Dao, so many market department employees are saying, why not restart the artist brokerage business?" Yue Jun entered after hearing Lin Nan's sigh at the door.

"Forget it, it's quite good as it is now." Lin Nan looked at Yue Jun, paused, and then exhorted:

"Remind Shanhai Media to appropriately reduce Reba's announcement endorsements. Although she is taking the route of star-led and actor-assisted, she cannot overdraw her fame; she must have a posture and attitude."

Yue Jun was silent for a moment after hearing this, then nodded: "That's the truth, I will exhort that side later."

"Lin Dao, actually, this is already the workload after filtering her several times. But you might not have noticed, there is too much hot money in our industry now, the higher the artist's value, the more they are snatched up..."

Lin Nan didn't respond to Yue Jun's later words, until the latter made a suggestion: "Reba's tax is the highest, should we open a few more for her..."

"No need, pay taxes honestly." Lin Nan decisively rejected the other party, but he also reacted to a problem and looked at Yue Jun: "Are there already many artists who have opened multiple studios and companies now?"

Hearing Lin Nan's question, Yue Jun couldn't help but laugh: "Lin Dao, that's more than just many? That's very, very many!"

"That is to say, the actors around us don't have this situation, but you go look outside, the studios and companies under the names of most first-line artists in the circle are basically starting from a few, and many are dozens!"

Yue Jun's voice echoed in the office, Lin Nan didn't answer, but kept silent, and the atmosphere cooled down like this.

"Lin Dao?"

"Have you ever thought about human desire... especially the money in our industry is too easy to earn, they are all trying every means and racking their brains to avoid taxes, but desire is hard to fill. If one day, they can't avoid more taxes, how will they fill this desire?"

Yue Jun's expression instantly became serious, he had already reacted to what Lin Nan was saying!

"Outside, there should already be that kind of thing, right?" Lin Nan lowered his head and started to get busy.

"Although there is no definite 'corroboration,' as far as I know... there is, and quite a lot."

Yue Jun nodded. The circle has indeed been very chaotic in recent years; the reason is that actors and artists earn money too easily and too crazily.

"We only have four artist studios, don't think too much, four is enough. Appropriately remind the four of them, under Shanhai Media, cleanliness is the most important."

"Hmm, okay, Lin Dao."

At this moment, Yue Jun nodded quite seriously and earnestly, agreeing.

Entering the National Day holiday, the films in the slot, whether high-quality or rotten, all obtained higher daily box office than usual due to objective reasons.

But at the same time, *Cock and Bull* also exceeded Lin Nan's previous prediction; it didn't fall in the third week, but fell in the second week, on the third day of National Day.

That is, released for 14 days, the total box office accumulated 305 million, and the daily box office fell to below 100,000! Its market share was all sucked dry by the few films like *I Belonged to You*.

However, in terms of this box office alone, it didn't lose money at all, but instead made a big profit, because the production cost of *Cock and Bull* was only 30 million!

Of course, the box office of the other few National Day commercial films was high. But comparing them, the daily box office trend was completely different.

*I Belonged to You* was released for 5 days, winning 472 million, and the daily revenue was still over 60 million.

And *L. O. R. D* was released for 4 days, with a total box office of 240 million. Speaking of its daily box office, it's a bit funny:

Starting from being pushed to 70 million by fans on the second day of release, it has been falling at a rate of 10 million every day since then, exactly the same as the daily box office trend of the *Tiny Times* series back then!

The final *The Adventurers*, this film is also the most indescribable; 130 million in four days, the lukewarm appearance gives people a feeling that it is going to "finish" at any time. It completely conforms to Wang Changtian's "definition" of it—inferior, cheap, it's just Wong Jing using it to circle money!

After breakfast, Lin Nan prepared to go out. The Ferrari F12TDF that Liu Yifei had was parked in the courtyard, which Han Jia had just driven over this morning, and she was at home right now.

"Do the two ladies want to go to the Tudou headquarters with me?" Lin Nan was too lazy to go to the garage, so he simply sat in this bright yellow sports car.

"You are going to talk about business, but what can we do if we go there?" Liu Yifei pouted and rolled her eyes at Lin Nan.

"Aiya, I can follow." Han Jia wasn't polite and raised her hand directly. But she was instantly pressed back by Miss Liu, "What are you joining in the fun for?"

"I'll go listen and see how many shares I can buy!" Han Jia said seriously, only "Kong Fang Xiong" (money) in her eyes at this moment.

Hearing this, Liu Yifei couldn't help but frown, looking at little classmate Han with disgust, "Don't go and lose face for Chairman Han, like a money-grubber."

"Hey, you are standing and talking without back pain, can I compare with you? Look, I haven't had a better life than you since I was a child, the first car was still..."

Looking at Han Jia, who was arguing with Liu Yifei, Lin Nan was too lazy to pay attention and flashed away! Only hearing the roar of the engine, before the two women could react, a touch of bright yellow had already rushed out of the courtyard.

Just past 10:00 AM, Tudou Building.

Representing Enlight today was naturally Wang Changtian; and Wanda was also Liu Xiaobin, who else could take over the most important few classes of Ye Ning?

As for Tencent, it was a senior vice president who had dealt with everyone quite a few times before.

As for Weibo, it was truly beyond Lin Nan's expectation, because it wasn't Cao Guowei. Before, Lin Nan, Wang Changtian, and Wang Wei all thought Cao Guowei would come in person.

"Lin Dao, I'm really sorry. Chairman Cao did indeed want to come in person, but there was an emergency, so I could only be sent."

"You say that, I'm just curious. What is Chairman Cao busy with recently?" Lin Nan asked politely, and then entered the elevator with the Weibo executive.

"Nothing much, just that the methods of some competitors in terms of business are not very authentic, always 'stealing' Weibo's resources."

"Hmm? Is there such a situation?" Lin Nan was stunned, and didn't react for a while.

"Also, Lin Dao doesn't participate in Weibo's management, so of course you don't know. It's the ByteDance system. This year, they have been a bit unscrupulous. Our original shareholder meeting in December is to discuss this matter. Weibo has some shares there... Lin Dao will know when the time comes."

Lin Nan didn't answer, just nodded with a smile, but at this moment, lightning flashed in his mind.

On the 23rd floor of the Tudou Building, there were only 6 people in the large conference room.

"According to the team's plan, and having communicated with ICBC, Tudou will submit an IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in March next year. If everything goes smoothly, around mid-year or slightly later, Tudou can officially ring the bell at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and land on the Hong Kong stock market..."

"Everyone look at the materials in front of you. This is the initially proposed number of shares for the initial public offering, the number of shares in the option pool, the number of shares for internal subscription before listing... According to our opinions from all parties, we can make modifications and constantly adjust... After all, we must first be responsible to our six major shareholders, and only then to..." ===== CHAPTER 772 =====