Chapter 328: It's Not That Simple [666+7]

Recently, sound movies have driven the rapid development of the entire film industry, making many capitalists notice this place.

The entry of capital naturally brings a series of changes. To cope with these changes, under the initiative of some screenwriters, directors, and actors, a "Film Practitioners Union" was formed.

As long as you are a practitioner related to film, you can join this union, and the organizers claim it will integrate and efficiently utilize the resources of the entire industry.

Many new entrants in this industry have no connections or relationships, and the birth of the Film Union well compensates for this.

They can gain more opportunities for various types of work through the union; actors have more ways to meet directors, and directors also have more opportunities to meet actors.

Screenplays written by screenwriters don't need to be submitted one by one to those production companies; they can be sent directly to the screenwriter branch of the union, and after registration, they can be displayed to most production companies.

From drafting to deciding to do this, it only took four months, which was already very fast.

Jielaer, as the lead actor of a movie, was naturally invited. He, the director, and the entire crew were in Xigu City.

When he heard Lan Si's call and the content, he was obviously a bit surprised. "I'm not clear about this matter, Lan Si. We entrusted the distribution business to a company specializing in distribution, and the other party promised to guarantee our screening times."

"I'm completely unaware of what you're saying!"

He paused as he said this. "I need to communicate with the director; please wait a moment."

Soon there was no sound on the phone. After waiting for about four or five minutes, two sets of footsteps appeared in the receiver from far to near, and then the receiver was picked up.

"Mr. Lan Si?"

"Yes, I'm still here."

"Jielaer just said our movie wasn't played. What's the situation?"

Lan Si explained the situation he encountered. The director breathed a sigh of relief. "Mr. Lan Si, I don't think there's any problem."

This made Lan Si feel a bit incredible after hearing it. "Why is there no problem?"

"They are selling our tickets but playing someone else's movie. People can't see Jielaer's performance on the big screen at all, nor can they see your results. I think there's a big problem here!"

Listening to Lan Si's words, although he refuted the director's point of view, the director wasn't angry at all, because these words were essentially for his consideration. He explained to Lan Si.

"Mr. Lan Si, you might lack some understanding of the current film market."

"Currently, we use a buyout screening system. To put it simply, after our movie is finished, we invite cinema companies and cinema owners to watch the movie."

"When they think our movie is exciting, we can enter the next link with them, which is the price negotiation link."

"We trade the movie we shot at a price acceptable to both parties. As for how many times they play it and how they play it, it has nothing to do with us."

"Because they have already bought it out, we only need to worry about one thing, and that is that the cinema won't pirate our movie."

"As for whether they play it after buying it?"

"I believe they will play it, because it relates to whether they can make money."

Lan Si felt a bit incredible after hearing it. This was not quite the same as the box office sharing system in his memory. "But I heard that in some places... production companies and cinema chains share money based on the box office."

The director laughed and said, "That's indeed the case. The movies of a few big production companies are indeed shared based on the box office, but Mr. Lan Si, they are them, and we are not them."

"Before our movie proves its market value, there won't actually be that many cinema chains coming to sign contracts with us."

"And even if such a contract is signed, it's hard for us to guarantee whether they can truly fulfill it. We also have to arrange manpower to run around the country."

"Going to their cinemas to count some data is a very complicated job, Mr. Lan Si."

"And we don't have any very good means to confirm whether they have stolen our box office."

"Currently, our main targets are some small and medium-sized cinema chains and private cinemas."

Hearing this, Lan Si roughly understood. "That is to say, playing what has nothing to do with us, including their revenue?"

"Yes, Mr. Lan Si. However, as long as we can prove that our movie can attract more people to enter the cinema, then the price of the next movie will have a qualitative improvement. If we can maintain success continuously, we can talk about sharing with cinema chains."

Actually, after saying so much, Lan Si also understood. The general meaning is two points.

First, they have no fame, and in this environment that clearly belongs to a buyer's market (introducing film sources), they are not qualified to set conditions.

Second, if they want to change from a buyout system to a box office sharing system, at least they have to become very famous. Only when they prove that "our movie has a dominant position during the screening period" will those cinema chains talk to them about sharing.

Lan Si actually didn't expect the current situation to be so complicated. He asked again, "Then how much money did our movie sell for?"

The director's voice sounded a bit elevated; clearly, he was in a good mood. "It has already sold for 135,000 dollars, Mr. Lan Si. You have already made money from this."

He thought for a while. "After deducting taxes, there is about... 15,000 dollars or so."

"15,000 dollars?"

Lan Si didn't quite understand, but the director was still so enthusiastic. "Yes, and there might be a few more cinema chains buying in later. The revenue at that time will be pure profit relatively speaking."

"This movie can bring you at least 30,000 dollars in revenue. Actually, this income is not low. Although it can't compare to the movies of those big companies, in our scale, it is already the first tier."

Lan Si was suddenly a bit speechless and also wanted to curse. Just this?

If it's all buyout, how can he use movies and cinemas to launder money?

"Listen, director, 30,000 dollars is not as much as the revenue from selling more alcohol tonight."

"I will continue to invest, but I hope our influence can be greater. At the same time, next time you go to talk to the cinema chains, tell them we are talking about a sharing system."

"Don't use the buyout system; I don't like this!"

The director didn't quite understand after hearing it, but as an investor, Lan Si had the final say; he still understood this principle.

"It's just that it's hard for me to guarantee how many cinemas we can negotiate with, and whether we can ensure they won't steal the money that should belong to us!"

Lan Si interrupted him. "This is not what you need to consider; this is what I need to consider, okay?"

"Also, is there a plan for the next movie?"

The director was in high spirits at this time and immediately stated the shooting plan for the next movie. Lan Si then asked him to talk again after returning.

Originally, he thought this matter would be very simple, but now it seems this matter is not that simple.

Box office sharing does exist, but small companies simply can't afford to play it. Just arranging supervisors to check the box office situation in cinema chains all over the country is a significant expense.

Not to mention other aspects, such as piracy, for small production companies, buyout is the most reasonable way.

And the return on investment is fast; after shooting here, once negotiated there, you can get the full payment, which is much more convenient than waiting for sharing after the screening ends.

After ending the conversation with the director, Lan Si made another call to Vice President Woen. After confirming that he was at the Dock Workers Union, he immediately took a car to the docks.

In the office of the Workers Union, Lan Si met Woen.

"When is Skote rising?"

At this time, a month had passed since the competition, and President Skote didn't seem to have left yet. Lan Si felt a bit strange.

Woen asked the secretary to send a cup of coffee over. He sat on the sofa next to Lan Si. "At the end of this month, the beginning of next month."

Lan Si looked him up and down. It could be seen that he was in a very calm state, without any uncertainty about whether the president was about to leave and whether the power would be passed to him.

"So you've already been internally decided?"

A very faint smile appeared on Woen's face. "This still needs to be voted on; the Workers Union is a democratic group."

The more he said this, the more Lan Si understood that this matter had already been decided, just not easy to disclose to the outside.

"Is there a way to urge Skote to leave early?"

Woen looked at Lan Si with some lack of understanding. "What's wrong?"

"Because at the end of this month, the beginning of next month, there might be a riot, at the docks, or even the entire city."

"If he doesn't leave, it's highly likely he won't be able to leave!"

Woen froze for a long time after hearing this. If Skote couldn't leave, wouldn't he, the internally decided president, have to become the current vice president again?

He hurriedly asked, "What exactly is going on?"

Lan Si explained the general situation to him. "... So this is a multi-faceted reason, and it relates to the future of this city."

"Actually, I shouldn't have told you this, but we are friends, Woen; I have to tell you in advance."

"However, you don't need to worry that this is a bad thing. In fact, for you, for the dock workers, it might not be a bad thing."

"Capitalists will offer higher income to workers, the dissatisfaction within the dock workers can be greatly eased, the immigrant groups can also voice their calls for fair treatment, and there are those illegal immigrants."

"If you can cooperate with me to handle these things and do them beautifully, Woen, you also have a chance to go to the General Union!"

"And after you go, your status will definitely be higher than Skote's!"

"Because you will be a person walking at the forefront of the era, and you will also be a person with huge influence!"

Lan Si swore that he didn't want Woen to be on the front line; he just felt that this was an opportunity, and it would be a pity not to try! ===== CHAPTER 329 =====