Chapter 153: Shanghai Film Seeks People, Yu Dong Sends Women

Lu Kuan turned and walked out of the office, trying his best to restrain the ecstasy in his heart.

The moment Han Han Shanping offered a 12% distribution fee, Lu Kuan, sitting opposite, thought through all the sad things from childhood to adulthood.

Only then did he not laugh out loud.

"Brother, hurry in!"

Yu Dong and Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing were looking forward to it at the door of the conference room provided by China Film, and finally saw the gloomy-faced Lu Kuan.

Was he bullied by Han Han Shanping?

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing was the weakest negotiator present today.

In terms of strength, Shanghai Film Group is in a corner;

In terms of friendship, Yu Dong and Lu Kuan are partners from the micro-era.

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing was born in a state-owned enterprise and holds a high position. This time, he came with the idea of win-win cooperation, but looking at the posture of Han Han Shanping just now...

Sigh! Since the Vice Chairman of China Film has lowered his status, what else can he, a distribution department manager, hold onto?

Start licking!

"Hello Boss Lu! I didn't have a chance to communicate and greet you just now, please forgive me!"

Lu Kuan exchanged pleasantries with him politely, and together with Yu Dong, the three entered the conference room.

Yu Dong had no time to listen to Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing's flattery: "Brother, how was the chat with Han Zong just now?"

Seeing Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing also looking at him with inquiry, Boss Lu acted like a drama queen, sighed, and put down the teacup in his hand.

"Two of you, I'll just say it like this, and you just listen to it like that."

"Once I walk out of this door, I won't admit anything."

Fatty Yu suddenly felt that these words sounded familiar.

"China Film is a big family, this time they want to bundle *Stone* and *Shoplifters* for distribution, and they also gave Wenjie very favorable conditions."

"This number!"

Lu Kuan gestured with a six, and then flipped it front and back once.

12 points!

Damn, are they crazy! That was how they grabbed business last time!

This time they grabbed two at once!

Boss Lu was too embarrassed to say that they even advanced the publicity fees, otherwise he was afraid that these two would be scared away directly.

Yu Dong acted pitifully: "Director Lu, last time we cooperated so well, you have to leave at least one for our two companies!"

Yu Dong and Poly Bona were truly pitiful last time, but now he is pretending to be pitiful.

Since taking *Whiplash* and making a name for himself, Bona is now famous in the industry as a private distribution company, and it doesn't lack business at all this year.

However, in Yu Dong's heart, directors and movies are only divided into two types: one is Lu Kuan's, and the other is someone else's.

Because only Lu Kuan can provide more ideas to his distribution team and help them refine their business!

This is their foundation, which is much more valuable than earning a few million or ten million more.

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing saw that even Yu Dong was acting pitiful, so he licked and acted pitifully: "Director Lu, Shanghai Film was very unlucky not to be able to participate in the investment of *Shoplifters* last time. You must consider us for this distribution!"

"Don't worry! I'll tell you! Before I came, our President Ren said, I am fully responsible for everything, and reaching cooperation is the top priority!"

Yu Dong's face changed greatly. Go to your mother, how can a state-owned enterprise have such a shameless guy, licking so crazy!

Boss Lu was secretly happy, but remained calm on the surface.

"Two of you, let's do this. I'll tell Han Zong to move the screening of *Stone* in the afternoon to our Wenjie or Beidian. Let's talk about it properly then, how about it?"

Yu Dong was excited: "Good!"

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing didn't want to fall behind: "Too good!"

As the two big suckers wished, the screening in the afternoon was placed in Wenjie.

And China Film's Han Han Shanping was absent because of business in the bureau, and sent his secretary Gao Gao Chengsheng.

The screening effect of *Crazy Stone* naturally doesn't need to be mentioned. In the previous life, Ning Hao spent 4 million filming the movie, and many film effects were sacrificed to make way for the cost budget.

Including costumes, props, and some special effects scenes, and even some plots were filmed with handheld DV to save film, the picture was unstable and the clarity was relatively poor.

This version increased the budget, and with the opening-cheat supervisor Lu Kuan guiding it, small repairs were made to the original work.

The 106-minute director's cut ended, and the moods of the three people on the scene were very different!

Yu Dong, Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing: How come it feels even more attractive to the audience than *Shoplifters*! Found a treasure!

Gao Gao Chengsheng: Dog-day Lu Kuan is lying!

Many dialects? Low-cost and crudely made? All newcomer actors?

It is clearly a unique dialect charm! Vivid character images! Closely linked plot!

If China Film misses this movie...

It's over, it's over.

This time, won't Old Han let me take the blame again?

I should have followed the leader to the bureau for a meeting in the afternoon. Why did I come to watch a movie!

He cleared his throat and whispered to Lu Kuan beside him: "Director Lu, why don't we still talk to Han... about this *Stone*?"

"Old Gao! You can't be so shameless!"

"Secretary Gao! Shanghai Film is also a state-owned enterprise. Everyone is a brother unit, how can you kill them all?"

Gao Gao Chengsheng smiled bitterly: "You two, please calm down. I and Han Zong also communicated with Director Lu this morning, mentioning bundled distribution..."

"No! There is no such way of doing things. China Film occupied half of the output value last year. You can't leave a way for our private companies to survive!"

"Otherwise, I will go to the China Film Archive to pull a banner tomorrow, go to the Film Bureau to pull a banner, and I have to ask the leader, what is the use of issuing distribution licenses to us private companies?"

"Issued but not allowed to use, and offered 12 points to grab business, right?"

Boss Lu was originally watching a good show, but he didn't expect that this Yu Dong was also a master who looked like a pig but had a clear heart!

Even knew how to take advantage of the situation and shout out 12 points. This is to verify whether what he said in the morning is true, right?

Damn, they are all old foxes!

Actually, Yu Dong didn't have this idea.

He naturally considered the authenticity of Lu Kuan's words in the morning, but just now Gao Gao Chengsheng mentioned bundled distribution, and he had already cleared his doubts.

These 12 points were mostly to force the palace, revealing the low bottom line of China Film, so that Gao Gao Chengsheng would give up dyeing *Stone*.

Gao Gao Chengsheng glanced at the calm Lu Kuan with resentment, indicating that he had to report to the leader first.

What is there to report? At most, tell Han Han Shanping that it is indeed dialect, small production, etc., and gave it to Shanghai Film in order not to affect the feelings of brother units.

Anyway, Lu Kuan himself said that he didn't have much confidence in this movie. If Han Han Shanping wants to blame, blame Lu Kuan!

But what position does he have to blame Lu Kuan? After all, Boss Lu first proposed to bundle sales to China Film and also let points!

This damn thing, this kid is really an old sow wearing a bra, one set after another!

Yu Dong and Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing didn't care about him, and pulled Lu Kuan to chat immediately.

Boss Lu cut the Gordian knot: "Two of you, you also heard just now that I and China Film started talking from 12 points, so this point..."

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing jumped back first: "Shanghai Film can give 11 points, the publicity fee in the Yangtze River Delta can be advanced, and the cinemas under our banner can let them pay first and then settle!"

Yu Dong was furious, wanting to scold, you state-owned enterprise guys are all like beggars!

Isn't this making this kid even more justified in killing the price!

"Director Lu, look, it's like this. China Film itself also invested in *Shoplifters*, so it doesn't matter if they lower a few points, but we who do distribution rely on this bite of food!"

Boss Lu smiled noncommittally.

"Let's do this, two of you, go back and think about it. Zhu Zong, please ask the leader for more instructions. Let's cast a secret bid."

"Before 12:00 noon tomorrow, you each send the conditions to my phone, and I will decide the result."

"But I have to say it first! No matter if it works or not, everyone must not hurt the harmony. Wenjie is preparing to recruit troops from this year, and through signing and hiring directors for film and television creation, there will be many opportunities for cooperation in the future!"

Yu Dong and Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing looked at each other and left unhappily.

Zhu Zhaoxing stood at the gate of the China Film Archive and sighed, thought for a moment, and dialed the leader's phone.

"President Ren, it's me, Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing."

"Right, right, just chatted, this... it still has to be you to come forward, see if you can find the leaders above and talk to Director Lu."

Humble little Zhu, almost knelt down and said "Subordinate is incompetent!"

Ren Ren Zhonglun, who was on the other end of the phone, had just finished the meeting and walked out of the gate of the Film Bureau. Sitting in the front row of him in the afternoon was Han Han Shanping.

Speaking of which, this head of Shanghai Film Group is not yet the true President of the Group at this time. He will be officially elected in the internal meeting of the Group Party Committee in May.

It's just that the predecessor sold well and retired voluntarily, leaving the stage to him.

The Shanghai Film Group under his leadership also carried out drastic reforms starting in 2003.

Proposed the concept of "industrial chain," realized the benign interaction of production, market, technology, and communication sectors, and finally successfully listed.

"Lu Kuan? I've heard of him, he's a latecomer."

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing reported the current situation. Jiang Ping signaled him to wait a moment and took out his phone.

"Hello? Xiao Zhao, didn't you go to the celebration banquet of *Whiplash* last time? Are you familiar with director Lu Kuan?"

Jiang Ping knew that Little Yanzi had high emotional intelligence, maybe she had a friendship with Lu Kuan, and wanted to see if she could greet Lu Kuan through her.

He dealt with cultural people like directors a lot, and knew that sometimes using power to suppress people might not work, not to mention that he now has deep cooperation with Han Han Shanping.

China Film Group is a unit under the Film Bureau, but he is only a Deputy Director, and besides, Old Han has... behind him.

Little Yanzi on the other end of the phone was confused.

Jiang Ping roughly described what happened, which shocked her.

Lu Kuan is so awesome?

Shanghai Film, Bona, China Film are fighting for his movies? The Deputy Director can't arrange him?

Is this still the little immortal she dared to face directly at the beginning...

They say you should look at each other with new eyes after three days. Half a year has passed, and the other party seems to have grown to a height she couldn't reach.

"Hello, are you listening, Xiao Zhao."

"Oh, yes leader, sorry, the signal was not good just now."

"Hmm... considered familiar, what's the matter leader, do you have any instructions."

"Can you help arrange a meal? The distribution manager of Shanghai Film will go with you to see if you can talk it down."

Little Yanzi didn't dare to be big this time. She could make a phone call, but it was not certain whether the other party would bird her.

"Leader, I am filming a few scenes for *Warriors of Heaven and Earth* now, maybe I can't return to Beiping for a while."

"Oh, that's fine, take care of yourself."

"Okay leader, goodbye."

Little Yanzi hung up the phone a bit lost. She suddenly remembered Lu Kuan's judgment on her earlier.

Said that her work prospects this year would not be very clear...

She, who was originally full of confidence, was now also a bit self-doubting.

*Green Tea* released in August, *Warriors of Heaven and Earth* released in September, Little Yanzi's heart was full of anxiety.

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing heard it clearly on the side, and his hanging heart finally died.

The leader was already giving them face by contacting the middleman. Do you want the Deputy General Manager Jiang to come down in person?

Lu Kuan doesn't have that face yet, and Shanghai Film can't afford to lose that person.

"Xiao Zhu, are you sure the quality of this *Stone* is as high as Lu Kuan's own *Shoplifters*?"

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing hesitated for a moment and nodded firmly.

"Oh, alright then, take care of your health."

"Understood, leader, goodbye."

Little Yanzi hung up the phone, feeling somewhat dazed; she suddenly recalled the judgment Lu Kuan had previously passed on her.

Saying that the prospects for her works this year wouldn't be too bright...

She, who had been full of confidence, was now experiencing some self-doubt.

"Green Tea" was set for an August release, and "Heaven and Earth Heroes" for September; Little Yanzi's heart was filled with anxiety.

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing, listening from the side, heard everything clearly, and his hanging heart finally died.

It was already giving them enough face that the leader was willing to contact a middleman for them; did they really expect Deputy General Manager Jiang to step in personally?

Lu Kuan didn't have that kind of face, and Shanghai Film Group couldn't afford to lose that kind of face either.

"Little Zhu, are you sure the quality of this 'Stone' is as high as Lu Kuan's own 'Thief'?"

Zhu Zhu Zhaoxing hesitated for a moment but still nodded firmly.

"General Manager Ren, there's no need to mention Director Lu's artistic attainments; the expectations for this 'Thief' to win awards are also there."

"But purely in terms of audience appeal and target demographic, I think the potential for this black comedy is also very high; the box office performance won't be much worse than 'Thief'."

Ren Ren Zhonglun slapped the armrest of the sofa: "Then don't dawdle; let's give him 10 points in the blind bid, and Shanghai Film Group will advance the distribution costs."

Jiang Ping nodded secretly; this old senior had spirit, and the future of Shanghai Film Group was promising.

Yu Dong, in the Bona headquarters office, had worried himself gray-haired.

A blind bid was truly a poisonous scheme!

How much was appropriate to offer? Did he really have to break his bottom line and offer him less than 10%?

Just thinking about it made his heart ache!

He clicked around randomly on the blog site; gossip about Lu Kuan was flying everywhere, including the previous revelations by paparazzi Zhuo Wei regarding him and Liu Liu Yifei.

It was just that the traffic wasn't high, and it was being tightly controlled by official sources.

He really was a "washing machine" director; he was much more carefree than himself, a distributor—playing with whoever he wanted.

Fatty Yu suddenly thought of something, slapped the table in excitement, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

"Hello? Director Hu, that girl from the Northern Frontier who performed a solo dance at your station last time, the one who ate at our table—is she still in Beiping?"

"Yes, yes, that's the one with the little tiger teeth, named Guan Xiaotong, your fellow townsman."

"What? She's been seconded to the China Song and Dance Troupe?"

"That's great, that's great, Old Hu! Brother has run into a situation; this time you absolutely must help me..."

(End of chapter)