Chapter 187: Compromise of Art

There is one more thing that makes Cao Yang have to stay in Jingcheng for a few more days.

In mid-June, Baidu conducted its third round of financing.

Actually, from the end of 2003, Baidu started the third round of financing negotiations, mainly to screen out those investors who could bring different values for Baidu's further development.

At that time, Baidu had already established its absolute leadership position in the domestic search engine market.

The 2003 statistical data from the American survey agency Alexa showed: Baidu, which ranked first among Chinese search engines, had become the world's second-largest independent search engine provider. In a short time, no one would shake its position in the Chinese search engine market.

The appearance of the "Cao Yang Bar" made Li Zong start to face up to Cao Yang's influence domestically.

And Cao Yang's international awards, as well as the box office of nearly 150 million USD for *Milk* in North America, showed that Cao Yang's influence in the US was also very large.

Since they were seeking investors who could bring different values to Baidu, Li Zong diverged his thinking and felt that with Cao Yang's influence, he could definitely tell a good "story" for Baidu's going public.

Consequently, Li Zong tentatively asked Cao Yang if he wanted to invest in Baidu during its third round of financing.

Cao Yang had this intention for a long time, so it was a hit.

Consequently, in the third financing announcement released by Baidu in mid-June, a total of nine institutions entered the investment list.

Among them, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Google, and CY played a leading role in this round of investment.

Nine institutions invested a total of 20 million USD, buying 2.999 million shares of Series C convertible preferred stock, equivalent to 6.67 USD per share.

Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Google, and CY each bought 750,000 shares with 5 million USD.

Up to this point, Baidu's third round of financing, which is also the last round of financing before going public, ended.

CY, which is the company Cao Yang registered in the US, is currently responsible for operating matters related to *Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey*.

Originally, Li Zong only thought about giving Cao Yang a share of 100,000-plus shares, just having a name would be enough.

Who would have thought that Cao Yang's appetite was so big, actually thinking about leading the investment together with Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Google.

At first, Li Zong didn't agree, thinking that the young man's appetite was really big, and he wasn't afraid of being stuffed to death. Where did you get the money and courage to be mentioned in the same breath as Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Google?

He asked someone to carefully investigate CY—although what I value is your reputation and influence, you can't just use a shell company registered casually to fool me.

Then, something that made Li Zong dumbfounded happened.

CY's business is very little, but it operates *Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey*, which is on the bestseller list in North America, and the sales have already reached 30 million USD.

Li Zong stayed in the US for eight years and mixed in both Wall Street and Silicon Valley, so he knew very well the influence brought by bestsellers.

Moreover, he knew that bestsellers also had a big income head, which is the film and television adaptation rights.

CY's official website shows that the co-production *District 9*, which is publicly announced to have an investment of 70 million USD, and another one called *Juno*, are all novels among them.

Li Zong didn't know how much money was involved in this, but he had to admit that this was a golden egg, the kind that could continuously produce.

This made Li Zong look at Cao Yang with new eyes. This is not just as simple as influence on reputation.

If the novels in *Cao Yang's Fantasy Journey* were all adapted into films, that influence would definitely not be as simple as one plus one equals two.

Originally, he thought about using Cao Yang's reputation and influence to tell a wonderful "story" to the Americans when Baidu went public, but he didn't expect this story to become a serial!

Then what else is there to say? Isn't it just leading the investment? What's the big deal? Agreed!

Cao Yang has to sign an agreement at Baidu headquarters on July 12th, after which he can leave Jingcheng and go to South Africa to continue filming.

On July 10th, Cao Yang and Tian Zhuangzhuang watched an incomparably wonderful concert at the Workers' Stadium.

It is said that the branch venues on this day, in order to recover the cost of 500,000, and in order to attract old color... no, in order to attract the audience, all coincidentally held a model beauty contest in the cinema.

It was really interesting. "Are we attending a film premiere?"

Old Tian was confused after watching the concert.

In his concept, shouldn't the premiere ceremony be the main creators going on stage, chatting with everyone about the filming of the film, chatting about the interesting things that happened during the period, or complaining, answering a few questions from reporters, and then everyone watching the film together?

This one today is obviously a concert, okay?

"Just say whether it's wonderful or not?"

Cao Yang joked with a smile.

"The Peony Pavilion in the film is moved to reality for you, some popular singers are singing for you there, and there are also American singers in it. We didn't spend money to watch so many, just say whether it's worth it or not?"

Old Tian was silent for a long time, and finally sighed, and didn't speak for a long time.

"Alright, what are you feeling sorry for yourself here? Doesn't Director Zhang Yimou look quite happy? He is still the general director of the whole evening party."

Cao Yang patted Old Tian on the shoulder and opened up.

He knew why Old Tian sighed.

Who is Zhang Yimou?

He is also one of the facade representatives of the Beijing Film Academy.

Having won so many awards internationally, he is a well-known international big director and an artist.

!

Nowadays, for the sake of the box office, how did he fall to this point?

Old Tian probably has a kind of faint desolation in his heart now, not only for Zhang Yimou, but also for those of the same session as them.

After entering the Beijing Film Academy to teach, to a certain extent, he can be considered a person within the system, and he can get some inside information.

The country attaches importance to the market, and the determination to support commercial films is not transferred by personal will. The intensity will only get bigger and bigger, which can be seen from allowing private and foreign enterprises to enter the cinema chain.

Regardless of private or foreign enterprises, what is the purpose of entering the cinema chain?

Make money!

They will only follow market laws. Whichever film has a high box office and can make money for them, they will prioritize screening and put it in good sessions and time slots.

It has to be admitted that in terms of the market, commercial films are definitely more advantageous than art-house films.

Zhang Yimou has this change. Who among those of the same session as them can be spared?

This is art compromising for the box office.

"Zhang Weiping is really a bastard!"

Old Tian was silent for a long time, and finally scolded fiercely, almost gritting his teeth.

"It's just a big trend. It's not wrong to follow market laws."

Cao Yang comforted.

"Sigh, I just feel sorry for Yimou. He can change, and he can compromise, but... it doesn't have to go to such an extreme, just to be ridiculed by people!"

Old Tian shook his head and sighed.

Cao Yang smiled. He could understand Old Tian, and similarly, he could roughly understand Zhang Weiping's thoughts.

Because *Hero* was almost cheated, Zhang Weiping was a bit afraid to sell the copyright to the Americans again, but with such a large investment, it is very difficult to recover the cost just by relying on the domestic box office.

What to do?

What else can be done?

He can only try every means to expand influence, sell more box office, and maybe Europe and East Asia can sell more copyright fees.

However, Zhang Weiping is indeed a bit obsessed. A good premiere ceremony was turned into a song and dance party.

Sigh!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 188 =====