China Entertainment Mythology 2004

Chapter 335 Get out of the way, I'm going to hang up!

"'Mermaid' has been completed in the later stages. I would like to ask Boss Li for advice. I wonder if Boss Li has time?" In the call just now, Zhou Xingchi finally explained his intention after some pleasantries.

"I don't take advice seriously. I wish I could have a sneak peek at Master Xing's latest work! But I'm afraid Master Xing doesn't just want to invite me to watch a movie, right?"

"Hahaha, I can't hide anything from you, so let me tell you straight. Xinghui is contacting distribution companies in the mainland. I still prefer the guaranteed distribution method. I wonder if Boss Li is interested in Maoyan movies?"

"Guaranteed release?"

Li Mu's brain immediately started working at high speed.

The guaranteed release of domestic films began during the Spring Festival in 2013. At that time, Huayi Brothers released Zhou Xingchi's film "Journey to the West: Conquer the Demons" directed by Zhou Xingchi with a guaranteed guarantee of 5 million yuan (originally 3 million yuan). In the end, "Journey to the West: Conquer the Demons" was a huge hit17 billion (the original time and space was 12.46 billion), Huayi Brothers made a lot of money.

Logically speaking, this should have been a win-win situation, but in the end, disputes arose just like the original time and space.

There is a supplementary agreement for this guaranteed release. According to the supplementary agreement, if the box office of "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" exceeds 8 million, Huayi Brothers will give Zhou Xing an additional 8000 million yuan as a reward. However, Zhou Xing holds more than [-] million yuan. The trust in Huayi Brothers was just a verbal agreement with the other party, but no signing of this supplementary agreement.

Finally, after "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" sold for 17 billion yuan, Zhou Xingchi excitedly went to Huayi Brothers to share the money, but Huayi Brothers refused to admit it.

In the end, the two parties went to court, but Zhou Xingchi ultimately lost the lawsuit because he did not sign the supplementary agreement. This incident eventually led to Zhou Xingchi and Huayi Brothers parting ways.

In fact, Li Mu in this time and space also vaguely reminded Zhou Xingchi, asking him to try his best to implement all agreements into paper agreements, and to do countless verbal agreements.But that's all he could do. As for whether Zhou would listen or not, it was entirely up to Zhou to make his own decision.

Huashang Media also has a lot of business dealings with Huayi Brothers. It is unlikely that Li Mu would ask Zhou by name to beware of Huayi Brothers, otherwise it would be easy for him to be a different person inside and outside.

As for Huayi Brothers, if they don’t have enough credit, they will cut off all ties with them?
How can it be!

In the original time and space of 2020, Zhou Xingzhi’s ex-girlfriend Yu Wenfeng sued Zhou and demanded the 7000 million dividends that Zhou had verbally promised. In the end, Zhou said, “But those were just words of love in love, not a commitment to establish a legal relationship. "defend?
Therefore, any written agreement or oral agreement is a test of human nature, and human nature has not been able to withstand the test since ancient times.

Let’s talk about guaranteed issuance.

After "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" was released with a guarantee of 5 million yuan, in 2014 Jingshi Culture and China Film jointly released Ning Hao's work "The Flowers of the Heart" with a guarantee of 6 million yuan.

In the end, "Heart Blossom Road" sold for 11 billion. This time, the guaranteed party still made a lot of money. However, the example of the guaranteed publisher making a lot of money cannot cover up the huge risks of this distribution method for the guaranteed party. Otherwise, the producer Nor will we seek guaranteed issuance.

Just like "One Step Away" directed by Jiang Wen, it was released with a guarantee of 2 billion (original time and space was 10 billion), but the box office failed miserably, with only [-] million, a huge loss of [-] yuan guaranteed, and the prince was so angry that he scolded his mother.

However, all risks of guaranteed distribution are for other distribution companies. For Maoyan Films with Li Mu's plug-in, guaranteed distribution is a business that is sure to make money without losing money.Because he knows that Stephen Chow's "Mermaid" finally sold 33 billion, knows that "Pancake Man" with tens of millions of investments sold 11 billion, and even knows that Huayi Brothers bought out the domestic box office revenue in India with 1500 million. The movie "Dangal!"Dad" eventually sold 13 billion!

So is there anyone in the world who is more suitable for the "guaranteed release" model than Li Mu and his Maoyan movies?
there is none left!
However, it was impossible to explain the specific details of the agreement over the phone, so the two finally agreed to meet in person at Huashang Media.

After agreeing on a time with Zhou Xingzhi, Li Mu convened a meeting with the top executives of Huashang and Maoyan.

"As far as I know, Zhou Xingchi and Jingshi Culture have been in contact for some time. It is said that Song Ge, chairman of Jingshi Culture, promised Zhou Xingchi a guaranteed issuance of 18 billion. I personally feel that the risk of a guaranteed issuance of 18 billion is too high. High, but it may not be unprofitable. I originally planned to report to the chairman as soon as possible and ask you to make a decision personally, but I didn’t expect Zhou Xian to take the initiative to find you, the chairman.” After listening to Li Mu’s introduction, Maoyan Film Executive Director, CEO Shen Li said.

"Brother Song from Beijing Culture is so courageous!" Li Mu couldn't help but think.

A person without the foresight of a time traveler dares to raise the upper limit of guaranteed issuance from a mere few hundred million yuan to 18 billion yuan in one breath. How rare is this?

The key is that he made the right bet!

Does Li Mu know that Xingye's "Mermaid" has a box office of 33 billion yuan in the original time and space? What's more, the scale of the domestic film market in this time and space is more than two years earlier than that in the original time and space?

In fact, the current market in 2015 is basically equal to the market in 2017 in the original time and space, so the final box office of "Mermaid" in this time and space is likely to be much higher than the 33 billion in the original time and space.

Bold and extremely vicious, there is indeed a reason why Jingshi Culture was able to catch up and eventually overwhelm Guangqian Media.

But it's a pity that no matter how vicious the vision is, it can't be compared with the time traveler. This time, Li Mu is bound to win the guaranteed distribution rights of "Mermaid"!
His eyes swept over the faces of the executives on both sides, and finally fell on Shen Li, CEO of Maoyan Films: "You come up with a specific plan. We will do our best to get the guaranteed distribution rights of "Mermaid" this time. In hand."

Shen Li nodded: "If Jingshi Media is determined to win this, the final minimum price of the guaranteed issuance is likely to reach 19 billion yuan. I am even worried that Jingshi Media will not give up easily even if it is 19 billion yuan."

"19 billion?"

The executives in the conference room looked at each other in disbelief.

In China, the producer usually gets about 43% of the box office. If the final agreement is a guaranteed release of 19 billion, that means that no matter what the final box office of "Mermaid" is, the Maoyan movie must be at least at least Allocate 19% of 43 billion to Xinghui, which is 8.17 million yuan!

Even if the final box office of "Mermaid" is only 1 million, that much still needs to be distributed to others!
It is said that the production cost of "Mermaid" is 3.5 million. The film has already locked in a gross profit of more than 4 million before it is released!

It is said that filmmaking is a very high-risk industry, but if you look at Zhou Xingzhi's filmmaking, is there any so-called risk?
For Li Mu, who knows the potential of "Mermaid", he can still make money from a guaranteed release of 19 billion or 20 billion, not to mention a guaranteed release of 25 billion. However, as a businessman, Li Mu must also pursue the maximization of profits. Therefore, he must seek to guarantee the release of "Mermaid" at the lowest price acceptable to Stephen Chow.

So what should the negotiation number be?

"Do you think it's possible to issue a guaranteed issuance of 16 billion?" Li Mu turned his head and asked Shen Li.

"Chairman, did you just say 16 billion?" Shen Li was stunned for a moment, and then asked again in an uncertain tone.

Li Mu nodded.

Now all the executives in the office, including Huashang Media's Liu Siying, Chen Zhixi, several other vice presidents, and several executives from Maoyan, all looked at Li Mu with puzzled faces.

Just now, CEO Shen Li said that Brother Song from Jingshi Culture has given a guaranteed guarantee of 18 billion. Our opponent offered 18 billion, and we offered 16 billion. Zhou Xingzhi chose us because he was mentally ill?

The price difference is 2% of 43 million. According to this minimum guarantee, Zhou Xingchi will most likely earn 8600 million less!
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
At this moment, everyone is waiting for Li Mu's further explanation, because normally, even if your own bid does not overwhelm the opponent, it must at least be on par with the opponent. Otherwise, why would the film studio choose you?

However, after so many years of contact, everyone knows that Li Mu is not the kind of leader who talks nonsense, so there may be some links here that he has not figured out yet.

At this time, Li Mu turned to look at Chen Zhixi, the production director of Huashang Media: "Which film would our company arrange to be released during the Spring Festival next year?"

Chen Zhixi thought about it and replied: "It's only March now. Isn't it too early to consider the Spring Festival schedule? Currently, we have several films to be released mainly including "The Secret of the Dragon", "Zootopia", "Zootopia" and "Coco", "The Hunger Games 3", etc. "Operation Mekong" which is currently in production should be able to catch up with the Spring Festival, but "The Wandering Earth" may not be able to make it in time - Chairman, I think we should consider the summer schedule first. , our company has many films to be released, and many of them are suitable. The so-called plan cannot keep up with changes..."

Li Mu smiled and said: "After all, we must arrange for the movie to be released during the Spring Festival, right?"

Chen Zhixi said without thinking: "Of course. Last year's Spring Festival period had a seven-day total box office of 53 billion, with an average of 7.5 million per day, which topped all other periods throughout the year..."

Speaking of this, Chen Zhixi suddenly paused and thought: "Stephen Chow's new film "Mermaid" has been locked in advance for next year's Spring Festival. If Hua Shang also arranges for a film to be released by then, the market price of 53 billion in seven days is already very exaggerated. But if two 30-billion-dollar films are arranged to be included - it will be a life-and-death battle with a red bayonet!"

Thinking of this, she suddenly understood what Li Mu meant. Not only her, but Liu Siying, Shen Li and others also reacted.

If Maoyan Films wins the guaranteed distribution rights for "Mermaid," then Huashang Media will most likely have to give up the Spring Festival release next year, otherwise it will be competing with itself.

But if Maoyan Films did not obtain the guaranteed distribution rights for "Mermaid", then why did Huashang Media give up the Spring Festival schedule that has become the first time of the year?If both sides suffer, both sides suffer, so let's all rely on our abilities!
So the reason why Zhou Xingchi took the initiative to find the chairman is probably not just because he values ​​the strong distribution capabilities of Maoyan Films?
Maybe there is also a consideration here to avoid scheduling?

But in this way, since Huashang Media wants to make obvious concessions, it is impossible for Zhou Xingchi not to express his opinions. Therefore, the chairman's 16 billion guaranteed issuance, maybe it is really possible?

At this time, everyone's eyes changed again when they looked at Li Mu.

At this time, Shen Li was even calculating the specific details of the agreement with a guaranteed issuance of 16 billion.

Generally speaking, guaranteed distribution can be divided into two situations: one is that the income above the guaranteed box office has nothing to do with the film company and belongs entirely to the distributor; the other is more complicated, and both parties will agree on multiple box office ranges. The proportion of each interval is different.

Of course it is impossible for Zhou Xingchi to choose the first way.In the end, the details of the sharing agreement drawn up by Li Mu for negotiation were as follows:
Take the guaranteed issuance of 16 billion as an example.

For the portion of the box office between 0 and 16 billion, Maoyan Movies enjoys a share based on the market price. This part of Maoyan’s revenue is around 1 million yuan. If Maoyan Movies is responsible for advancing distribution expenses, the share ratio will be higher.

票房在16亿至26亿之间的部分，猫眼电影将分得制片方收益的40%作为发行费用，中间这10亿制片方部分大概是4.3亿左右，4.3亿的40%就是1.72亿。

票房在26亿至36亿之间的部分，猫眼电影将分得制片方收益的60%，4.3亿的60%就是2.58亿。

If the box office exceeds RMB 36 billion, Maoyan Films will share 70% of the producer's income.

If this agreement is indeed negotiated, then if the final box office of "Mermaid" really reaches 36 billion yuan, Maoyan Films, as the guaranteed distributor, will earn at least 5.3 million yuan.

This is a deal to do!

Even with the same 18 billion guaranteed issuance as Jingshi Culture, this business can still be done!
From the perspective of a time traveler, even higher guarantees can be achieved!
……

Beijing Municipal Cultural Conference Room.

At this moment, everyone's expressions were extremely serious, from Chairman Song to the next.

The latest news is that Maoyan Films is also negotiating with Xinghui about guaranteed distribution. And who is Li Mu?Known as the number one judge in the entertainment industry!

That is the existence that netizens ridicule as "travelers"!

Brother Song can see that "Mermaid" has a box office potential of 20 billion or even more than 25 billion, and Li Mu can naturally see it too. And when it comes to the great influence of the company and the relationship between Li Mu and Zhou Xingchi, he Brother Song also There is no advantage at all, so from the current point of view, the 19 billion guaranteed issuance that made Song Ge quite proud a few days ago is likely to be stillborn.

At this time, the assistant suddenly came in and said something in Brother Song's ear. When Brother Song heard this, his face changed, and then he felt an inexplicable excitement.

"I just got the news that Zhou Xingchi went to Huashang Building this morning. Reliable news is that the price offered by Huashang is a guaranteed issuance of 15 billion."

With a buzz, the conference room exploded.

The senior executives of Jingshi Culture looked at each other, and then many of them laughed unconsciously.

"15 billion guaranteed issuance? Doesn't Li Mu know about our bid for 18 billion guaranteed issuance?"

"It has been spread in the circle for a long time. It is unlikely that Li Mu did not get the news. I think he is probably not very optimistic about "Mermaid"."

"I think Li Mu is too arrogant. He thinks that only Hua Shang Media can produce the best-selling movies. Now Hua Shang has accumulated 30 movies worth more than 3 billion yuan, but he thinks that Zhou Xingchi's new movie is only worth 15 billion guaranteed. !”

"If the dust has not settled for a day, we cannot take it lightly. I estimate that the guaranteed price of 15 billion is Li Mu's trial price. I estimate that if this price cannot be negotiated, it will rise again in the future!"

"Hahahaha... We have already bid 18 billion guaranteed, and we can even offer 19 billion guaranteed. How can he get 15 billion? Zhou Xingchi is not stupid!"

But Brother Song, who was sitting in the main seat, always felt that something was wrong.

Logically speaking, if someone offered a minimum guarantee of 18 billion, it would be impossible for Zhou Xingchi to choose someone who would only offer 15 billion. But why did Li Mu make such an offer this time?

Is it because you are not optimistic about the guaranteed issuance model, so you reject it in this way?
Brother Song shook his head, I'm afraid things are not that simple!
Just one day later.

The definite news finally came that Xinghui has reached a guaranteed distribution contract with Maoyan Films, with a guaranteed price of 15.5 billion yuan!

Stephen Chow even turned down the guaranteed base price of 19 billion yuan from Jingshi Culture and chose to cooperate with Maoyan Films.

It is said that according to the agreement between the two parties, Maoyan Films will advance promotion expenses of no more than 2 million yuan, and for the box office below 15.5 billion, Maoyan Films will charge distribution fees based on the market price, with a ratio of 20% (no distribution fees will be charged if the distribution fee is not advanced). will be so high).

Some Maoyan movies with RMB 15.5 billion to RMB 25.5 billion charge a 40% distribution fee.

25.5 billion to 35.5 billion Maoyan movies charge a 60% discovery fee.

For the portion above RMB 35.5 billion, Maoyan Films charges 70% of the distribution fee.

It is said that the agreement also requires Zhou Xingchi to fully obey the arrangements of the Maoyan movie promotion team when promoting the film. It is said that this even includes roadshows in dozens of cities, and Zhou must be present in person to cooperate.

What Song is most concerned about is why Zhou Xingchi would rather reject his 19 billion yuan guarantee from Capital Culture and choose to cooperate with Maoyan Films. The reason is even more surprising and helpless for Song.

It is said that Maoyan Movies only promised to release its own films during the Spring Festival next year, while Huashang Media promised not to arrange for the release of its own films.

Just this small condition!

Just such a small condition allowed Maoyan Films' 15.5 billion to beat his 19 billion, but Brother Song didn't have the temper.

Because he, Brother Song, can definitely arrange for his own film to be released during the Spring Festival next year, but can the film he arranges pose a threat to "Mermaid"?What's the point of not posing a threat to "Mermaid"?

And who in China doesn’t know that Huashang Media is a monster company that can easily produce a 30 billion or even 40 billion movie?

In other words, Stephen Chow is not afraid of being stuck with any film, but he is afraid of being stuck with Hua Shang Media.

It turns out that the reason is so simple, but even if Brother Song knew the reason in advance, there was nothing he could do. He might be able to increase the guaranteed issuance to 20 billion, but would Zhou really change his mind because of this?
Brother Song may not think so.

This is what makes people angry and helpless.

Huashang can produce 30 billion movies to compete, but there is almost no solution to this problem!

……

After returning home, Liu Yifei hugged Li Mu's arm sadly and said, "Tell me now, you don't have to be emotionally tortured anymore!"

Li Mu asked, "Why do you say that?"

Liu: "Don't ask, tell me now that I don't have to be tortured by emotions anymore!"

Li Mu asked again: "When have I ever let you be emotionally tortured?"

Liu snorted: "You still say no? We have been talking for so long, but you just refuse to propose. Even I want to... want to..."

I remember that when filming "Let's Get Married", Liu Yifei had even prepared a ring to propose to Li Mu in reverse. He also said that Li Mu found out in time and used more than a dozen love songs to delay the time, so he proposed before her on the final day. Liu said This should be what it means, right?

Speaking of not proposing for several years, it would be okay to say that Liu had suffered a little, but what Li Mu was curious about was what happened to Liu today, and why he suddenly remembered these things about sesame seeds and rotten millet.

"You don't have to be tortured by feelings anymore, because you are my wife!" Then he was still curious, "What on earth happened to you today?"

Hearing this, Liu Yifei said quietly: "Liangying said that she was envious of my bravery at that time, and she was even more envious of my luck at that time. She said that she also wanted to imitate me."

Li Muxin said: "Zhang Liangying, imitate you? What do you imitate? Did I almost propose to the man in reverse if I imitated you?"

"Wait a minute, Zhang Liangying, reverse proposal? Is this something that is going to be very sensational in the original time and space?"

(End of this chapter)