Chapter 433: This Name Alone Is Worth One Hundred Million

Xu Chujing listened to Luo Mo's words, but she was not the least bit surprised.

She was merely stating an objective fact; she was very clear about some of the underhanded tactics in the film industry.

However, how could Luo Mo ever bow his head and compromise?

One must know, when he was still just a trainee, he dared to face Pineapple Entertainment, one of the four major companies in the industry, and dared to face the joint "Anti-Explosion" from over ten well-known entertainment companies.

Since transmigrating and the fusion of his soul, Luo Mo had thought about one question: with a brilliant civilization as his backing, with a span of civilization to rely on, how should he live?

Of course, he had to live a different way.

If things really didn't work out, he would just retire early.

It's just a pity that he hadn't encountered such a situation yet.

——《This Star Really Wants to Retire》.

Xu Chujing looked up at Luo Mo, and the smile on her face instantly stiffened.

"Where are you looking?"

"Didn't the doctor say you can't bow your head anymore?"

……..

……..

Shencheng, a certain high-end residential complex.

This was the house Song Ge rented.

Although this person had earned the title of "Water Emperor" a few years ago, he hadn't actually earned much money.

He was usually spendthrift and extremely concerned with saving face, so he hadn't saved enough capital to buy a high-end residence in Shencheng, where land was worth its weight in gold.

The Hot Search for the entire day today had left Song Ge stunned.

He knew very well that Luo Mo would cross over into the film industry sooner or later; it was only a matter of time.

But he hadn't expected everything to come so quickly.

And he certainly hadn't expected it to be in this form!

"Right from the start, he's a co-director, a screenwriter, and a producer."

"And the investment is so huge, a full 150 million in production costs."

"And it's a fucking animated film!"

Tears of unearned envy flowed from the corners of Song Ge's eyes.

If nothing else, he certainly couldn't come up with that production cost.

But people, once they feel envy, jealousy, and hatred, will produce some other kinds of emotions.

He was more eager for Luo Mo to lose money than the vast majority of people.

And it had to be a bloody loss!

Song Ge, who was about to join the "Billion Box Office Club", felt that he had a professional eye.

"Forget it, this doesn't even need a professional eye; anyone with a brain knows it's a guaranteed loss!"

"On what grounds do you dare to have a production cost of 150 million when other people's box office records are only a little over 100 million?"

"Just because people call you 'Luo God' a few times, do you really think of yourself as a deity?"

Song Ge used to think that although Luo Mo had that sharpness of a young man and didn't know how to be restrained, his ideas were quite mature when it came to work.

Looking at it now, he was afraid this person had gotten carried away.

"Have the great successes of animations like 《That Rabbit》, 《Fog Hill of Five Elements》, and 《Spirit Cage》 allowed his ambition to grow to such a pathological degree?" Song Ge chuckled.

He even wanted to open a bottle of red wine now and invite a familiar and safe "money-burning machine" to his home to spend a pleasant evening together.

Song Ge felt that his new boss, Wang Shisong, must also be grinning from ear to ear right now.

Although at their level, it was normal to occasionally lose 100 million on a failed investment.

Especially in recent years, Pineapple could be said to have suffered a string of defeats, with various commercial projects being cut short.

However, watching Luo Mo's undefeated Myth be shattered, it was very gratifying, wasn't it?

………

………

Beijing, a certain high-end private club.

Chen Kai, the head of Xindi Cinema Chain, was drinking tea in an antique-style courtyard.

This small courtyard was not large, but it was decorated extremely elegantly.

The scrolls and calligraphy hanging inside, although not authentic works by famous masters, were such that even ordinary experts might not be able to tell the difference between real and fake.

These forgeries that could pass for the real thing were actually quite valuable.

Inside the room, an elegant woman wearing a cheongsam with a good temperament was playing the guzheng.

On the other side, a beautiful woman wearing the same style of cheongsam, who looked somewhat similar to the woman playing the guzheng, was brewing tea.

——《Mother and Daughter》.

They were very well-maintained; if the two women sat together, absolutely no one would think they were mother and daughter, and most would assume they were sisters.

Xindi Cinema Chain was one of the largest cinema chains in the country, with over 150 cinemas nationwide, accounting for 14.2% of the market share.

This data was not much different from the situation on Earth around 2014 or 2015.

In recent years, the domestic film industry on Blue Star could be said to be booming, with the total annual box office rising year after year, and Xindi Cinema Chain could be said to be making a fortune.

According to their current plan, they intended to have over 300 cinemas nationwide within five years!

The beautiful woman in the cheongsam sat sideways on a cushion, and after brewing the Dahongpao tea with skilled techniques, she poured it into the cups of Chen Kai and a young man.

The young man was named Mengjiang, Chen Kai's son-in-law who lived with his wife's family, which was a highly popular and enviable profession in recent years—the "matrilocal son-in-law".

"Dad, did you see the news this afternoon? Luo Mo and He Yuanguang's 《Monkey King: Hero is Back》 has been submitted for review," Mengjiang said to his father-in-law.

Chen Kai nodded and said with a smile, "This matter has caused such a stir that it can be said to be known to everyone in the industry. If I still didn't know about it, then my sources would be far too closed off."

The beautiful woman in the cheongsam continued to pour tea for the two, as if she were not interested in the content of the conversation at all.

A person like her must learn to be a hollow tree.

Stories can be put inside, but the tree cannot speak.

On the contrary, the young girl in the cheongsam playing the guzheng on the side slightly raised her head and glanced over here after hearing the name Luo Mo.

She likes Luo Mo very much.

She has even had the dreams that many girls of the same age have.

After the beautiful woman finished pouring the tea, she looked up at her daughter with a barely perceptible glance as a warning.

The girl in the cheongsam was so frightened that her legs clamped together slightly, and she continued to focus on her guzheng work.

Chen Kai took a sip of hot tea and said to his son-in-law, "What is your take on this matter?"

Mengjiang was actually bringing this matter up on purpose, because he had already thought about it in his heart before coming to drink tea.

He just wanted his father-in-law to ask him, and then give his own answer.

Mengjiang feigned contemplation, as if thinking for a few seconds, before saying, "I heard that some people want to take this opportunity to squeeze Luo Mo."

"But my thought is, if 'Monkey King: Hero is Back' is released outside of a period like the Spring Festival slot, it would be better to make some appropriate interest exchanges, increase his screen allocation, or place more standees, banners, and posters in the cinemas to help with the promotion."

"Oh?" Chen Kai put down his teacup, glanced at his son-in-law, and then threw out another question.

"Luo Mo is entering the film industry for the first time, and his future development is still unpredictable. However, if we have a very good attitude during our first cooperation and relax various requirements, then if he really becomes successful later on, how should we negotiate the next set of conditions?"

Mengjiang had thought about this question and said, "Dad, my thought is that the key is still how the conditions are negotiated during the first cooperation."

"Then tell me about it." Chen Kai did not show his joy or anger, but instead seemed to be guiding him patiently.

But Mengjiang knew very well that if he said the wrong thing, Chen Kai's face would immediately drop.

Mengjiang swallowed his saliva and said, "My thought is, isn't our cinema chain also looking to sign a new Brand Spokesperson?"

"It is well known in the circle that Luo Mo rarely, very rarely, accepts endorsements, and his control in this regard is extremely strict."

"To this day, even if someone offers an unprecedented sky-high price in the industry, Luo Mo remains unmoved."

"But the more he is like this, the more he cherishes his reputation, and the more precious his endorsement becomes."

These days, many celebrities have had incidents regarding endorsements, and they were all major ones.

After all, you can't just rely on your influence to exchange for money, make a Big Profit, and then not need to bear any consequences after an incident occurs, right?

In this regard, traffic stars are more prone to incidents, and there is another type: those middle-aged stars who were popular in their early years and have extremely high National Popularity, where everyone recognizes them, but who have not been doing well in recent years.

Choosing a Brand Spokesperson is very important for a company.

Mengjiang proposed such a big matter, proposing to have Luo Mo as a Brand Spokesperson, but Chen Kai still did not express his own opinion, only saying indifferently, "Continue."

Mengjiang continued, "There is another point... Dad, don't you also want our Xindi to participate in the film investment field?"

"We can just take this opportunity to let Luo Mo agree to our subsequent cooperation."

"His live-action films will definitely be worth much more than some animated films."

"With his traffic, and since it is his first film, he definitely has Box Office Appeal."

On Earth, in recent years, major cinema chains have started to become dissatisfied with just showing movies and participating in the box office split.

Many cinema chains have started trying to get involved directly from the source and joining the ranks of investors.

Therefore, when you go to watch a movie in recent years, if you pay attention to the companies at the beginning, many of them might be opened by cinema chains.

Quite a few companies have actually made a Big Profit and Extra Big Profit because of this, directly collecting money from two sources.

On Blue Star, this trend has just begun, and most are still in the testing stage.

Chen Kai put down his cup and waved at the young woman in the cheongsam who was making tea.

The young woman immediately walked behind him and began to massage the temples of Chen Kai, who had closed his eyes.

Mengjiang, this live-in son-in-law, watched this scene, having long been accustomed to it.

He dares to do things in front of his son-in-law that ordinary people wouldn't do, because he has the capital, and he is too lazy to hide it.

But as a son-in-law, just try to wrong my daughter and see what happens.

People, they are always double-standard.

At this moment, Chen Kai was actually already slightly displeased.

He felt that Mengjiang considered too much; whether it was a Brand Spokesperson or investment, these were not things he should be thinking about right now.

But from another perspective, if a person doesn't even think about these things, Chen Kai doesn't like such a person either.

He closed his eyes, did not give Mengjiang an answer, but asked another question.

"So, you actually don't think highly of 'Monkey King: Hero is Back', you just value Luo Mo's personal worth."

Mengjiang knew that Chen Kai did not like to hear ambiguous words; yes is yes, no is no, so he gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes."

Chen Kai smiled and said, "Go home."

He began to directly send him away.

Mengjiang responded, obediently stood up, and then left respectfully.

He didn't quite understand what his father-in-law was thinking.

In reality, Chen Kai was actually quite optimistic about 'Monkey King: Hero is Back'.

Although he didn't think this animated film could break even, he didn't think it would be a total loss either.

Just because he had heard about one thing this afternoon.

Or rather, he had heard a name.

"If the method of promotion is chosen correctly, then his name alone is worth at least one hundred million in box office!" Chen Kai said in his heart with his eyes closed.

The next day, Beijing, Review Department.

Deputy Team Leader Zhong Lin came to work once again with red-rimmed eyes.

The team members were already accustomed to this, and could even deduce from the deputy team leader's swollen eyes: "It's probably Luo Mo's doing again!"

Team Leader Zhong Lin was always being made to cry by Luo Mo, and this time seemed to be no exception.

As per the old rule, after Luo Mo's works were submitted for review, they were all reviewed personally by Zhong Lin.

The people under her had no chance to feast their eyes first due to work relations.

Sigh, what a pity, they missed out on a lot of talking points for bragging to friends around them.

A young girl with a bit more courage, seeing Zhong Lin enter, even asked in a low voice: "Team Leader, is *Monkey King: Hero is Back* good?"

"It's not good! Luo Mo's Animation is so annoying!" Zhong Lin displayed a rare, girlish demeanor.

He hands out blades, he hands out blades every single time!

This Luo Blade-Blade, he has no heart at all!

Jiang Liu Er is so cute... sigh!

After Zhong Lin placed her bag on the office desk, she began to handle some basic work first.

After about half an hour, she got up and headed to He Ping'an's office.

Originally, the submission of a *Monkey King: Hero is Back* for review was just a small matter.

She had no reason to disturb He Ping'an.

She could have just passed it herself, and that would have been the end of it.

To be precise, she was going to find her great-uncle He Ping'an not because there was any problem with this film that she dared not pass on her own.

It was only because there was a name in the production list of this film.

Because of this name, she felt it necessary to have a word with He Ping'an.

She felt that her great-uncle would probably be very happy, right?

This person is named Huang Lun.

He is He Yuanguang's teacher, and even more so, the creator of the domestically household-name Animation *Journey to the West*!

It can be said that his *Journey to the West* accompanied generation after generation as they grew up.

At the same time, because of some past events, he and He Ping'an had a deep relationship.

To be precise, in that era of poverty and blankness, the old gentleman Huang Lun began producing *Journey to the West* under the instruction of He Ping'an.

Do not think that the Review Department of Blue Star is only responsible for passing reviews. And do not think that the Review Department of Blue Star has no effect on film box office.

You must know that a film has a screening cycle in theaters.

When the time is up, it is pulled from theaters.

Perhaps everyone also knows a term—【Key】.

Major theater chains and production companies can apply for a 【Key】 extension, which is to let this film be delayed in being pulled from theaters compared to other films in the same period, continue playing in theaters, and continue to rake in box office.

However...

—The Review Department has the right to not approve it.

At this moment, Zhong Lin held a small folder, stood outside He Ping'an's office door, and raised her hand to knock on the door.

(PS: Two-in-one, asking for monthly tickets at the end of the month to secure sixth place!)

(End of this chapter)