Chapter 609: Shocking the Entire Venue

Zhong Lin's seemingly understated remark was, in fact, equivalent to building momentum for Luo Mo.

She was clearly telling everyone how much the Review Department values Luo Mo, or rather, how much they hold him in high regard!

"We didn't consult any of you for your suggestions; we only consulted his."

"Heh, not only did we consult him, but we even modified the rules based on his suggestions."

In other words, the fact that you people were selected and made it onto the list is actually because you met the rules that the Review Department and Luo Mo formulated together!

Good grief, look at you, Tian Ou; you even issued a challenge to Director Luo from afar before!

Now look at you; you are simply not on the same level anymore.

This made our Director Tian feel incomparably uncomfortable.

He had called over two "perpetual motion machines" of the Beijing circle's young models last night, thinking he had overdrawn his sense of pleasure in advance so he wouldn't feel bad today.

But he clearly miscalculated.

What he was harvesting now was a different kind of emotion—humiliation.

Of course, there was also a sense of disparity and frustration.

Zhong Lin swept her gaze across everyone and noticed that quite a few people were stealing glances at Luo Mo.

She smiled and continued speaking, "As you have all seen, there are only 8 films participating in next year's Hundred Billion Box Office Plan."

"The difficulty has clearly been upgraded."

"But I still have a lot of confidence in all of you." As she said this, she glanced at Luo Mo.

Having said that, Zhong Lin took the opportunity to explain the many benefits of the Hundred Billion Box Office Plan.

After all, these are all key projects for support next year, so there are plenty of benefits.

Luo Mo listened while nodding slightly in cooperation from the side.

This wasn't because he, a veteran figure of the Hundred Billion Box Office Plan, was deliberately playing along with Zhong Lin, but because—the Review Department was indeed giving too much!

"The various types of support next year feel even better and more comprehensive than this year's!" Luo Mo thought to himself.

It's just that this time, the Review Department has started to become more focused on results.

Some benefits come with a Requirement.

For example, if the box office breaks 500 million, a portion of additional support will be added; if it breaks 1 billion, another portion will be added.

This means that the treatment everyone ultimately enjoys will very likely be inconsistent.

After finishing this, Zhong Lin looked at everyone again and said, "Do you directors have anything you'd like to say about this?"

Everyone's gaze converged on Luo Mo in unison.

Tian Ou really wanted to show off and give a grand, eloquent speech in front of his peers.

But while he dared to draft it in his mind, he didn't dare say a single word out loud.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Luo Mo smiled and said in a half-joking, half-serious tone, "Team Leader Zhong, listening to what you just said, are there no new special benefits after the box office reaches 2 billion?"

Everyone: "........."

Speechless. We thought you would consider things for us, but the problems you're considering aren't even on the same level as ours!

Hearing this, Zhong Lin also laughed, and the atmosphere in the conference room became a bit more relaxed and easygoing.

She said to Luo Mo, "Director Luo, oh Director Luo, once the box office breaks 2 billion, the feedback from the social and market levels will be extremely sensational; what kind of support would you still need?"

Can that even be called support? That would be icing on the cake, right?

Luo Mo nodded and didn't say anything more.

"I'm just greedy!" he admitted generously in his heart, while his face only carried a faint smile.

Zhong Lin tapped her fingertips lightly on the table and teased, "Director Luo, you have three films you participated in as a main creator that made it onto the plan's list next year."

"If you say it like that, I might take it as your box office expectation for these three films being over 2 billion!" Zhong Lin said.

In an instant, everyone looked at Luo Mo again.

Luo Mo just laughed out loud.

Tian Ou couldn't help but mutter in his heart, "Why aren't you taking the bait now? Go on, take the bait!"

Honestly, his box office expectation for Car King 3 was exactly 2 billion!

With the foundation of the previous two films, plus the increased capital investment this time and the addition of several big stars to the lead cast, he felt it would definitely reach new heights.

"The next part should be the military order segment," Tian Ou thought.

He recalled the scene from a few months ago when Luo Mo smiled and said the number "2.8 billion," and he felt a bit restless.

"You don't dare tell Team Leader Zhong 2 billion, but I do," Tian Ou thought.

He even felt now that this segment was actually a future publicity stunt.

Words, after all, should be spoken big!

What if it actually reaches it!

When the box office of To Live really breaks 2.8 billion, that would be praise across the entire internet—what a great opportunity to build momentum.

After reason and emotion collided in his heart, Tian Ou made his final decision.

——A person has to live, and one cannot help but show off!

In the meeting, it was mostly Zhong Lin and the two people from the Review Department behind her who were speaking.

The process wasn't moving fast, but it wasn't slow either.

Soon, it reached the segment where the directors stated their expected box office.

Zhong Lin looked at everyone and said, "You directors should also be clear that the reason the Review Department came up with such a support plan is actually to make our Huaxia film market the second-largest film box office market in the world."

"Looking at the data... Xiao Liu, you explain the data; you are in charge of this part," Zhong Lin said to a young man beside her.

"Very well, Team Leader." Xiao Liu pushed up his Glasses and had actually prepared a PowerPoint presentation.

Judging from the current data, Huaxia's total box office for the film market is indeed currently ranked second in the world.

But there is still one month left until the final settlement date.

Therefore, it is hard to say what the final result will be.

The current lead is not very significant, and there is also one point that is very Deadly.

In the coming months of November and December, there are no particularly good release windows.

But foreign holidays are different from domestic ones.

In November and December, a large number of major productions will be released.

——This is going to be tough!

Therefore, everyone present could be said to have a tacit understanding: "I am Afraid we won't be able to secure the spot as the world's second-largest film market this year."

Sigh, what a pity!

There is still a long way to go ahead.

Only Luo Mo felt deeply self-reproachful.

"Blame me, blame me for filming too little this year."

——Luo Mo, work overtime!

After finishing the overview of the situation, Zhong Lin had Xiao Liu close the PowerPoint and said, "Next, please record the data."

Then, she said to the 8 directors: "Same as usual, everyone should know the procedure; this is also a task assigned from above."

"Directors, please share your box office expectations for your new films."

"I hope everyone can be a bit more open and not be too reserved," Zhong Lin added.

Last time, there were many veteran directors, and when they spoke first, the whole rhythm was off.

This year, everyone is an up-and-coming director, so don't be so listless; hurry up and speak your true thoughts, don't hold back, and liven me up!

As soon as Zhong Lin finished speaking, everyone began to look at one another.

Last time, Feng Ji, one of the Four Great Directors, was present, so he naturally took the lead.

This year, it looks like it should be up to the two two-time veterans, Luo Mo and Tian Ou, to set the pace!

Zhong Lin had the same thought, so she said: "Director Luo and Director Tian, why don't you two go first?"

She actually wanted Luo Mo to speak first.

She still remembered vividly the 2.8 billion Luo Mo mentioned a few months ago.

If he started, the rhythm would definitely be different!

As for Tian Ou, he was just an afterthought; it wouldn't do to be too blatant about showing favoritism!

At this very moment, Tian Ou's "2 billion" was already stuck in his throat.

He was about to blurt it out!

However, Luo Mo was the first to speak: "Team Leader Zhong, everyone, could you give me half a minute? Director He Yuanguang, Director Guan Fei, and I would like to discuss something together."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up.

Oh? Listening to that, are they going to talk about the three films *SheepWithoutAShepherd2*, *Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child*, and *Yangming Livan* all at once?

Great, great, you go ahead and set the pace for all three!

Only Tian Ou frowned slightly, feeling something stuck in his throat, and couldn't help but cough lightly.

"Certainly, do you need us to step out?" Zhong Lin joked with a smile.

"No need, no need, it's just a matter of a few words." Luo Mo waved his hand.

Luo Mo stood up, took He Yuanguang and Guan Fei to the side, and whispered a few words.

Well, they really only exchanged a few words.

Everyone couldn't hear what they were saying, but the expressions on Guan Fei and He Yuanguang were somewhat strange.

Or rather, both Guan Fei and He Yuanguang had quite a reaction.

Everyone thought to themselves: "What are they talking about? How did they manage to scare their own people?"

He Yuanguang and Guan Fei exchanged a look, then looked at Luo Mo in unison.

Luo Mo nodded at them again.

Guan Fei shrugged first, indicating he was okay with it.

He was just a Box Office Poison anyway, so he didn't care; he had thick skin.

He Yuanguang thought for a moment and also nodded; let it be as Luo Mo says, after all, he is the one in charge.

By the time the three of them sat back down, Director Tian Ou could no longer wait.

His "2 billion" was still stuck in his throat; if they didn't let him speak soon, he was Afraid it would be a difficult delivery!

Showing off is a technical skill that sometimes relies on one burst of energy.

If you hesitate and get interrupted halfway, it won't be natural.

Showing off requires things to flow naturally!

Zhong Lin looked at Luo Mo and said: "Have you finished discussing, Director Luo?"

"Yes, I won't speak about them separately; I'll just give the total for the 3 films, is that alright?" he asked.

As he spoke, he added: "After all, I am a member of the main creative team for all three films. Both palms and the back of the hand are flesh; I have high expectations for all of them and don't want to rank them in my heart."

Actually, he was just too lazy to bother...

"Then I want to hear the number you're reporting first." Zhong Lin did not agree immediately.

Luo Mo nodded and stated the number directly.

Once this number came out, everyone present gasped.

"What!?"

"How much did he just say! How much is it when added together!?"

The 2 billion stuck in Tian Ou's throat had a stillbirth!

What Luo Mo said was:

"Then I won't ask for much, three movies, adding up to—8 billion!"

(PS: Second update, requesting monthly votes.)

(End of this chapter)