Huayu, can you be called the best actor if you don’t indulge yourself?

Chapter 429 The skylight is not bright enough

Jin City.

Siping East Road, Heping District.

The sky was grey and the wind was howling coldly.

Zhang Muye stood at the entrance of the alley, looking around with a cigarette in his mouth. The puffs of smoke kept drifting away with the cold wind. He cursed the horrible weather inwardly and tightened his coat.

Unlike the cold weather, Zhang Muye's heart was extremely hot at this moment.

His identity is an online writer.

Not right either.

Zhang Muye defines himself as a storyteller.

As a storyteller, there is nothing more gratifying than having your stories be popular!

Not only were his novels serialized online, but he was also approached by companies one after another expressing their desire to acquire the copyrights to his novels, with prices ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions.

At the beginning of last year, when the novel was serialized on Tianya Forum.

How could he dare to think of such a thing?

It was purely out of interest at the time. He didn't expect that in addition to subscription income, he could also make a lot of money through copyright. The thought of easily earning a house made him so excited that he couldn't sleep for half the night.

With more people asking for the price, it is natural to wait for the price to rise.

Make money!
This thing isn't shabby.

He would not resist any opportunity to earn more.

However, although he is waiting for a good price, Zhang Muye also has his own expectations. Although he wants to sell it at a good price, he also wants to see his work have the opportunity to move from fantasy to reality.

Let’s put it bluntly.

It's a film and television adaptation.

The characters in my writing can be transformed from paragraphs of text into frames of pictures, appearing vividly in front of you.

That feeling makes me excited just thinking about it.

However, the companies that contacted him during this period were of varying quality. Most of them were fake companies that he had never heard of. Not to mention film and television adaptations, even the prices they offered did not satisfy him.

The one that offered the best conditions was the website where I was serializing.

One million and a half in copyright fees.

Plus 40% share of the revenue from film and television adaptations.

This condition is not bad and is already the highest standard in the industry. Nowadays, there are only a few people in the industry who can earn millions of dollars by selling copyrights.

Another thing is that he also knows how difficult it is to adapt his novel into a film or TV series.

I want to move from fantasy to reality.

It requires a huge amount of capital investment.

If you have the support of a big website, you will have a better chance of being exposed to film and television adaptations in the future.

And not just empty words.

After weighing the pros and cons, Zhang Muye was ready to agree.

But a sudden phone call made him choose to suspend the transaction with the website and come to this place to wait.

Spark Films.

He felt a little excited when he thought of the name.

This company was established not long ago, but it has already made a name for itself.

The dark horse "Crazy Stone" and "Raging Fire" with a box office of over 200 million are both works produced by Xinghuo Film and Television.

These are all movies that Zhang Muye likes to watch very much.

Not only that.

Xinghuo Films has an endless stream of projects. The "Fall in Love with You" that is currently being prepared is adapted from an online novel, and the next "Painted Skin" to be filmed is said to involve special effects production.

Each film or television work requires an investment of 20 to 30 million yuan in production costs.

the most important.

He is the boss of Xinghuo Film and Television.

The billion-dollar director who is extremely popular.

After receiving the call, Zhang Muye quickly went online to look up some information about Li Luo. This was the guy who dared to spend millions or even tens of millions of dollars to help Ning Hao make a movie just because of a few words.

This drive and those declarations about dreams.

He likes them all very much.

All this proves one thing.

That is, the stakes offered by Xinghuo Film and Television will definitely not be low, and as long as Li Luo is interested, that guy definitely has the ability and enough capital to bring his work to the big screen.

Adaptation is not only possible, but also something that can be put on the agenda.

No matter which point.

To him, it was full of temptation.

Thinking of this, Zhang Muye stomped his feet excitedly again.

And at this time.

Hearing the sound of hurried footsteps not far away, he immediately looked over.

In the cold wind, I saw three people walking towards me in the shape of an arrow, two men and one woman. The man in front was wearing a black cashmere coat, and his gait was quite charming.

Every move he makes seems to be the focus of the crowd.

Wearing a mask.

I can't see clearly what it looks like.

But it is precisely because of this that the opponent becomes more powerful.

No need to think about it.

Definitely the one taking the lead.

The moment their eyes met, both parties realized that this was the person they were looking for.

Throwing away the cigarette butt, Zhang Muye walked over with a smile on his face: "Sorry, sorry, Manager Sun, I'm really sorry to have you rush to Jinshi, but I have to finish my manuscript tonight."

“I just can’t spare the time.”

"it does not matter."

Holding the other person's hand, Li Luo took off his mask with a smile: "Work should still be put first. It's nice to meet Mr. Zhang."

"correct."

"I'm Li Luo."

"what?"

Zhang Muye looked at the familiar face in front of him and blinked in confusion.

Yes, it's familiar.

Zhang Wuji, Qin Shubao, Yang Guo, Xu Wenqiang, those characters who often appear on the screen suddenly appear in front of you, it is almost impossible not to have confusion.

He is very popular and has a great reputation on the Internet.

But compared with the other party.

It feels like a small witch meets a big witch.

Putting aside other things, earning 200 million from a single movie is an achievement that I can never catch up with even if I try my best.

"Hello Mr. Zhang."

The man next to him smiled and nodded, "I'm Sun Jie who contacted you on the phone earlier. Mr. Li likes your work very much, so he flew all the way from Shanghai to meet with you."

"How can this be so embarrassing."

Zhang Muye stumbled and tightened Li Luo's hand: "Mr. Li, you don't have to do this."

"Sorry, sorry."

With an apologetic look on his face, he quickly arranged for everyone to leave: "I originally wanted to invite Manager Sun to taste the flavor of Jinshi. Alas, I was inconsiderate. Mr. Li, let's go to another place!"

"Yes, let's go to Dengying Tower."

“The cuisine of Jinlu is so authentic.”

He hadn't eaten for a while, so he heard Sun Jie agree to come for an interview and said he wanted to have a quick meal and chat in detail.

Zhang Muye simply booked dinner at this place.

Just didn't expect it.

Li Luo actually came over in person.

He knew that what the other party said was true. He was in Suzhou last night to attend the Golden Rooster Awards. The news said that he was filming in Shanghai. Apart from coming all the way to meet him, he couldn't think of any other reason for appearing in Tianjin.

Zhang Muye felt so touched that his heart was warmed, but he also felt that his hospitality was too shabby.

"Don't worry~"

Li Luo laughed and pulled the other person back, shaking his head and saying, "I usually like to eat authentic flavors. Brother Bachang, you don't have to be so polite. Just a simple meal will do. I don't care about that."

After confirming again and again that he was not just being polite, Zhang Muye walked hesitantly into the alley.

It’s really authentic.

The alley is like a narrow tunnel.

The width was not enough to open their arms, and they walked seven or eight meters inward, and several people lowered their heads to avoid the illegal buildings above.

The gas furnace in front was rumbling and white smoke was floating in the air.

The shouting sounds are very Tianjin-flavored.

Ringing in my ears.

Smelling the aroma in the air, Li Luo quickened his pace. If someone could find it in such a remote place, the smell must be pretty good.

"Brother Luo."

Pointing to the small family-style restaurant with a red exterior wall two or three meters away, Zhang Muye said a little embarrassedly: "This is it. The decoration is a bit poor, but their stewed pork elbow is excellent."

“Braised sole is also a specialty.”

"look?"

"Don't look, it's right here."

Li Luo waved his hand, indicating that you are welcome: "I only had a box lunch worth a few dollars at noon today. Your hospitality is already of high standard!"

"That's fine."

Zhang Muye stopped being hesitant and reached out to open the restaurant door.

It's really not big inside.

There are only a few tables in total.

Forget about the private rooms. Zhang Muye had reserved a corner seat in advance. There were quite a few diners in the room, all feasting on the reddish-brown stewed pork elbows.

This is not the era of smart phones. No one will bury their head in their phone while eating.

Chat and drink.

Everyone was busy and having fun.

However, as the four of them walked into the small restaurant, the lively atmosphere suddenly came to a standstill.

A pair of eyes.

He first looked at Zhao Xuejing, who had a pretty and slim figure.

Then he looked at the guy who was taking off his cashmere coat.

hey~
This kid.

Why does it look so familiar?

However, the murmurs in his heart soon subsided, and everyone continued with their dinner nonchalantly. Li Luo was not afraid of this situation at all, unless it occurred in some specific occasions.

As long as you don't try too hard to show off in front of others.

Even if most people have watched a play in which they themselves acted, they would still subconsciously deny that they had come into contact with a real person.

"ah."

When they were seated, the proprietress came over with a menu and looked at Li Luo in surprise: "You are so handsome, young man. Has anyone ever said that you look like a celebrity, like that so-and-so?"

"It's the one who played in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber."

"Uh-huh."

Li Luo laughed and waved his hand shyly, "Your name is Li Luo, right? Someone did say that, but I don't dare to compare myself with others. He is the most handsome male star!"

"Too."

The proprietress didn't notice the strange expressions of the other three people. She looked at his face with admiration and said, "But you are not bad either. If you were to walk outside, I don't know how many girls would be charmed by you."

"By the way, what would you like to eat?"

"Two elbows."

Zhang Muye didn't even think twice and ordered a few dishes: "Braised flounder and two of his signature dishes."

"Another bottle of white wine, do you have Moutai?"

Li Luo didn't say much.

Those who come are guests.

Whatever the other party arranges, do as he pleases. In Zhao Xuejing's backpack were a few physical copies of Ghost Blows Out the Light that she had just bought in Shanghai, although the novel had not yet been completely completed.

But I was able to publish a physical book.

The other party will definitely not be short of this money for food and drink.

There's no need to fight for it.

Because they were stewed in advance, two servings of steaming hot stewed pork elbows were quickly served on the table. The reddish-red color was quite tempting, and a layer of sesame seeds was sprinkled on top, and the rich aroma was fragrant.

The Maotai bottle was opened quickly and Zhao Xuejing poured three cups of it.

I poured myself some more tea.

"grateful."

Li Luo picked up the wine cup and gestured to Zhang Muye, "Thank you for your hospitality. On behalf of Xinghuo Films, I'd like to toast you."

"It should."

Zhang Muye quickly raised his glass and toasted the guests: "Welcome to Jinshi."

A line of fire went down his throat.

Instantly drive away the chill in your body.

The nervousness and awkwardness of the first meeting all melted away.

“A bit rough.”

Zhang Muye put down his glass, breathing in the alcohol, and smiled as he gestured to the two intact elbows, "But what I enjoy is the feeling of eating meat in big mouthfuls. The elbows are stewed until they are soft and boneless, and all the flavor is in them."

“Typical Jinshi flavor, with a hint of sweetness.”

“It’s also a little spicy.”

"Normally I can eat half of it with white wine, Luo Ge, why don't you try it and see how it tastes."

"Well, it's good to be rough."

Li Luo didn't hesitate to pick up the chopsticks and started to eat.

Don't tell me yet.

It was really well stewed.

Without using much effort, he easily split the entire elbow into two.

Li Luo picked up a piece of pork elbow skin and dipped it in the juice underneath, then put it into his mouth swiftly. It tasted soft and glutinous, with a sweet aftertaste and a slight spiciness.

Although he doesn't really eat sweet things like this.

But it has to be said.

The taste is really good.

With a thumbs up, Li Luo came up and picked up another chopstick.

Zhang Muye immediately smiled with satisfaction, and urged Sun Jie and Zhao Xuejing to start eating. At the same time, he quietly observed the big star sitting opposite him.

Although it is a small restaurant, the food is also some local snacks.

But the other party was not ambiguous at all.

He enjoyed the meal so much that he rolled up his sleeves.

Although they are all small details, they seem solid and reliable, and all these actions make him like them even more.

As he drank cup after cup of Moutai.

The conversation started.

Li Luo made up for the missed lesson on the plane and started asking curious questions about the topic of Ghost Blows Out the Light.

When talking about his masterpiece, Zhang Muye was naturally beaming with joy.

For example, the character Wang Kaixuan.

Just started.

Actually his name is Wang Kai.

I felt it didn't quite match Hu Bayi, so I changed it to Wang Kaixuan.

For example, the title of the book "Ghost Blows Out the Light" comes from a Northeastern saying "smoke bubbles and ghosts blow out the lights". He then figured out the meaning of people lighting candles and ghosts blowing out the lights.

Because of traveling all over the country in early years.

Zhang Muye has a wide range of knowledge.

He just picked out a few folk customs and talked about them so much that Zhao Xuejing and Sun Jie were stunned.

Before we knew it, three rounds of drinks had passed.

Li Luo grabbed a tissue and wiped his mouth, then picked up the bottle and slowly poured some wine for Zhang Muye: "Brother Bachang, you should know clearly why I came here. There is no need to hide this, how about we speak frankly?"

"Now I'm here."

"I don't know what your concerns are, or what your conditions are."

Li Luo raised his hand to signal, "You can tell me everything, and we can negotiate one by one. As long as the conditions are within a reasonable range, I can make the decision."

As the voice rang out, Sun Jie and Zhao Xuejing put down their chopsticks.

They both looked at Zhang Muye.

"Ah."

The latter quickly perked up under their gaze and quickly organized his words: "I do have concerns, but it seems that there are no concerns now, but in the end, there are still concerns."

Zhao Xuejing was almost stunned by all the roundabout talk.

"Is such that."

Zhang Muye took a sip of wine and said thoughtfully, "Actually, I was very happy when I received the call from Manager Sun. The reason I asked for a face-to-face meeting was mainly because I wanted to confirm one thing."

"That is, do you really want to develop Ghost Blows Out the Light, or do you just want to hoard the copyright?"

“That’s very important to me.”

Putting down the cup, Zhang Muye looked at Li Luo seriously: "Now that I see Mr. Li coming, I think I have got the answer I want. You shouldn't have to come here in person just to hoard the copyright."

“It’s certainly not about hoarding copyrights.”

Li Luo understood what the other party wanted to say, and said thoughtfully: "I like your story very much. I think Ghost Blows Out the Light has the potential to be adapted into a TV or movie, if the copyright can be obtained."

“I will definitely do related film and television development.”

"But to be honest, the filming of Ghost Blows Out the Light is very difficult."

"With the current level of technology, um, special effects, our domestic film and television special effects are still quite backward, and it is very difficult to restore them."

"How about this!"

Knocking on the table, he nodded to Zhang Muye and said, "Xinghuo Films makes a promise to you. If you cannot produce a theatrical movie with an investment of more than 30 million within five years, Mr. Zhang can unconditionally take back all the copyrights."

"For other works, if you are willing, Xinghuo Films will invite you to be a special consultant and screenwriter."

"Except for copyright fees."

"We will pay you the corresponding labor fee for this part."

"Mr. Zhang has the right to make suggestions on film and television adaptations. I hope that with your help, I can better present the Ghost Blowing Light series of stories to the audience."

"But the ugly words will come later."

Looking at the other person's shining eyes, Li Luo added: "Mr. Zhang only has the right to make suggestions. After all, film and television adaptations involve implementation issues. If you ask me to restore the Ancient City of Jingjue one to one."

"I can't do anything about it even if I sell it."

When he arrived here, Sun Jie laughed just the right amount to warm up the audience.

Zhang Muye also waved his hands hurriedly.

He said that he didn't even dare to think about that kind of thing.

"Good good."

Zhang Muye excitedly picked up the Maotai and took the initiative to pour it for Li Luo: "It's very good to have the right to make suggestions. It's really difficult to restore it one-to-one, but with these words from Luo Ge."

"I'm absolutely confident in leaving Ghost Blows Out the Light to you."

What a joke.

Although the most crucial issue has not yet been discussed, the conditions currently offered have already made him deeply satisfied.

Development must be started within five years, otherwise the copyright will be withdrawn unconditionally.

This is a promise that no one else has made to me.

As a special consultant and screenwriter, although he only has the right to make suggestions, he can still influence the final effect of the film to a certain extent. This is his dream come true. No one wants his work to be changed beyond recognition.

Not to mention.

I can also make some money from it.

"Thank you."

Li Luo knocked on the table to express his thanks, then looked at Sun Jie standing beside him.

"Mr. Zhang."

The latter understood and turned to Zhang Muye seriously: "Regarding the cost, after comprehensive consideration, we at Xinghuo Films want to buy out the corresponding copyrights of Ghost Blowing Out the Light for one million."

"This figure is already the price of the top screenwriters in the industry."

While Sun-jae was speaking.

Li Luo carefully observed Zhang Muye's expression. It was obvious that the other party was interested, but his interest quickly faded in an instant, and he was even a little disappointed.

It's not pretending.

I really feel the price is too low.

After all, it was number one on Baidu’s search list last year, and everyone wants to take a bite of it.

The prices quoted will naturally rise.

Of course he could understand this, and he didn't expect to get the copyright for only 200,000 like he did with "The Legend of Zhen Huan". Before coming here, he planned to quote a moderate price to test the other party's bottom line.

After all, business is business, and every penny saved counts.

I just didn't expect that the other party not only didn't show much interest, but was actually disappointed with the one million.

This is interesting!

"Mr. Zhang."

Sun Jie also sensed the other party's emotions and quickly listed examples: "The well-known screenwriter Shi Kang of the popular drama "Struggle" is only paid 800,000 yuan. We at Xinghuo Film and Television came here with great sincerity."

"What about the share?"

Zhang Muye interrupted Sun Jie and shook his head bluntly, "To be honest, the price your company offered is too low, and there is no profit sharing."

“Isn’t it a little lacking in sincerity?”

Since this was related to his core interests, the well-known writer quickly suppressed his excitement.

In contrast.

He could accept a slightly lower price offered by Xinghuo Films.

If he could develop successful film and television works, his personal commercial value would also increase. Zhang Muye was not unaware of this, but if the price offered was too low, he would just feel embarrassed to refuse.

Hearing the word "divide", Sun Jie looked at his boss calmly.

His authority.

The highest is only 1.3 million.

As for the share of the box office revenue, even the top screenwriters don’t dare to covet it easily.

Hear this.

Li Luo tapped the table lightly.

From just one simple sentence, we can tell that someone must have offered Zhang Muye a buyout fee plus profit sharing. If he wants to get the copyright of Ghost Blows Out the Light, he must raise the price.

"so."

He thought about it carefully and took over the negotiation power: "I'll just go for it, one million copyright fee plus 3% of the movie box office revenue!"

"Movie making is a huge risk and it's easy to lose everything you put into it."

"This aspect."

“I have made great concessions.”

Despite giving up three points of profit, there was still no joy in Zhang Muye's eyes.

Instead, I felt even more disappointed.

This will make Li Luo very confused.

Even if the conditions are not met, it won’t be to the point of disappointment!
"Mr. Li."

Scratching his head, Zhang Muye simply drank a glass of Maotai: "Your skylight is still not bright enough, why don't you let me help you brighten it up? I have been offered a profit of no less than 40% from the adaptation."

"You're three percent."

The second half of the sentence was not uttered.

But the disdain couldn't be more obvious.

"Cough~~~"

A violent cough sounded in the corner of the small restaurant. Li Luo swallowed hard and said, "How much did you say? Forty percent?"

"Any questions?"

Startled by his violent reaction, Zhang Muye looked blankly at Sun Jie and Zhao Xuejing, who had extremely strange expressions on their faces.

That’s right!
That’s forty percent!
(End of this chapter)