Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 67 Counterattack
Zhang Jianting urgently notified his lawyer to be present. The contract issue with the "Whiplash" crew must be resolved first, otherwise today's press conference will become a laughing stock.

The group of reporters who were reluctant to leave the door were still waiting anxiously. With Lu Kuan, the uninvited guest, things became more complicated.

Liu Zeyu walked leisurely to the negotiation site and sat down on the opposite side of the road without any hesitation.

"It seems you have some tricks up your sleeve. I underestimated you."

Boss Lu looked at him in confusion. "Who are you? I'm talking to Eagle King's people. What does it have to do with you?"

After a while, he pretended to laugh as if he suddenly understood something and said, "Oh! It's you, the guy who smelled my fart during the exam and wanted the formula!"

Liu Zeyu instantly recalled the humiliating memory at the Beijing Film Academy's fourth audition. He was about to explode in anger when a group of agents, lawyers, and Eagle King staff filed in.

The first to speak out was the Hong Kong lawyer representing the three artists.

"Lu Sheng, we have already clearly requested your production crew to terminate your performance contract. Based on the terms of the previous contract, this is completely legal and compliant."

"And you must pay the relevant remuneration to our artists during the filming period in accordance with regulations."

Boss Lu played with his phone and said disdainfully, "Don't delay. I sent a letter this morning to warn you that order has been restored on the crew."

"According to the terms of the contract, if you don't respond or continue working within 48 hours, I can unilaterally terminate the contract and demand liquidated damages of three times your salary."

The white-haired lawyer and Zhang Jianting exchanged a glance, then took out another document and said solemnly, "Mr. Lu, we have also noticed that the financial situation of your crew is not ideal. Do you admit this?"

Boss Lu ignored his self-proving trap and said, "Just say what you want to say."

The old lawyer had a gentle expression and spoke sincerely, "Our artists currently have quite a few endorsement contracts. If we were to sign some endorsements with mobile phone and coffee shop brands that have non-compete agreements, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to continue filming product placements in your film."

"With these endorsements gone, your financial situation will be very precarious. Rather than both of us getting hurt, how about we both take a step back?"

Family members know their own business. Lu Kuan now has only 400 million in his hand, and he has to pay 100 million to the crew of "Blind Well". He has not yet repaid the 60 he borrowed from Zhuang Xu.

There is still a big gap from the 600 million budget. In addition to the high endorsement fees, a large part of it is intended to make money from the World Cup which will open this month.

"How to retreat?"

Zhang Jianting said with a smile: "Let's terminate the contract peacefully and say goodbye on good terms. If you agree to terminate the contract, we won't ask for a penny of remuneration."

Then he said threateningly, "Lu Sheng, movies are all about fighting and killing. Young people should not be too arrogant."

What a shame! Why don't you tell young people not to be too impulsive? The show-off combo can't be triggered.

Boss Lu started to act like a rogue: "I really don't have enough money right now, but I don't care. If you want to play, I'll play with you to the end."

"I'd rather spend money every day to film with three of Hong Kong's hottest young actors until the money runs out. If I can't finish the movie, then I deserve it!"

"You can also ask Hong Kong Cinemas to ban me, it's up to you!"

He wants to trade himself with three young Hong Kong actors. This is an enhanced version of Tian Ji's horse racing.

Nicholas Tse and Edison Chen both have hot tempers and immediately slammed the table and started yelling.

He is only 20 years old. He passed the cultural subject examination and was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy this year. He still has plenty of time to do what he wants to do.

However, the popularity of Hong Kong actors such as Nicholas Tse and Edison Chen will drop significantly if they disappear for even a month.

What the entertainment industry lacks are resources and works, but it has never lacked people.

No matter how popular they are, if they are dragged down for a few months by Lu Kuan's contract, they are at risk of being washed away by the next wave.

Seeing the situation was becoming tense, Huo Wenxi had no choice but to step out and smooth things over: "Everyone has misunderstood this matter. Lu Sheng, just speak frankly and tell them how we can let them terminate the contract."

The group of people on the opposite side looked nervous, but Boss Lu, who was calm and composed here, started to make jokes.

He unabashedly glanced at the sexy buttocks under the beautiful agent's dress with his obscene eyes: "Sister Mani, you look so beautiful today!"

"For the sake of this beautiful woman, just follow the contract and pay triple the liquidated damages. I won't say a word and will leave immediately!"

Seeing that Boss Lu was unmoved, Zhang Jianting tore off his polite face and said, "Mr. Lu, your film is registered as a co-production, and it contains a lot of violent scenes, and it also seems to be an allusion to the image of teachers."

"If you agree to a peaceful termination of the contract, Whiplash will still have Eagle King's friendship, and I can even introduce you to other Hong Kong actors."

"If you insist on having this triple termination fee, I don't think your films will be very popular in Hong Kong, and no Hong Kong cinemas or actors will be willing to work with you."

Before, it was a covert threat, but this time, the ugly face was exposed directly.

If Lu Kuan is determined to fight to the death, even if he gets the liquidated damages, with Eagle King's influence, no Hong Kong actor will be willing to work with him, and the film will be boycotted by Hong Kong theaters.

This will result in the invalidation of the registration of "Whiplash" as a co-production, and the film's approval will be in trouble due to the controversy over the image of the teacher in the film.

Zhang Jianting looked at the young director who was lost in thought with a smile, thinking to himself, "You are still too young."

Liu Zeyu also intervened at the right time: "Lu Kuan, I have already contacted people about your three endorsements. If you are willing to give up the triple liquidated damages, I can stay out of this matter."

"If you insist on making a scene that embarrasses everyone, forget about the endorsement fee."

Nicholas Tse, Edison Chen and others all looked at him eagerly, admiring the little Yanei's decisive shot. Zhang Jianting also patted him on the shoulder to show his appreciation.

The young yamenei was extremely excited. He felt that he had acquired some of his father's skills and style in the brothel, and he felt a sense of pleasure that he could destroy the enemy's sails and masts in the midst of laughter and conversation!

I, the young master, made a "horse three forward five" move, and you, with your broad mind, made a "general six level five". Now I'm going to make a "cannon one level five". How will you respond?

This move is called Horse! Queen! Cannon!

Nicholas Tse and the others looked relieved. Liu Zeyu now regretted smashing his Nokia 7650 just now, otherwise he could have perfectly recorded Lu Kuan's dejected expression when he accepted the termination of the contract later.

The white-haired lawyer shrugged his shoulders easily. This kind of thing is not surprising. Eighty percent of business negotiations are reached through unconventional means. How many of them are actually carried out in accordance with the contract?

"You people!"

Lu Kuan sighed heavily.

Everyone looked up at the young man who spoke, but surprisingly, they did not see any sign of dejection on his face.

"You guys are just used to being robbers."

"He's not good at doing things, but he's very good at cheating people."

Boss Lu inexplicably thought of his past life, of himself as that young man who graduated from the University of Southern California and was full of longing for the art of film.

I think about how I have fallen time and again before the iron hoof of capital and the oppression of bureaucracy...

"If you have your eye on something, you'll seize it by force, no matter what. You don't have the ability to create your own situation, and you only know how to plunder your weaker peers."

Zhang Jianting curled his lips in disdain. He thought you were a big shot, but you said such childish words.

"The law of the jungle is the survival of the fittest. Do you think you're a student in an ivory tower? When you're wronged, all you can do is cry and scream."

Boss Lu stood up and walked towards Liu Zeyu and others, and took out a folded paper contract from his pocket.

"Here is a memorandum of understanding between Wenjie Culture Media and Taiwanese singer Jay Chou regarding the filming of 'Whiplash.'"

"As you said, the law of the jungle is the survival of the fittest. Now let me ask you, who is strong? Who is weak?!"

Lu Kuan suddenly raised his voice, threw a few sheets of paper with the scent of ink at Zhang Jianting's face, and approached him with a ferocious expression.

"What are you talking about? Co-productions must have people from Hong Kong?"

"Can Taiwan and mainland China collaborate on this? Huh? Can they? You idiot? Eat shit!"

Liu Zeyu and Zhang Jianting and their ilk failed in their first attempt to obstruct the crew from resuming work normally, and then forced him to give up the termination fee of three times his salary on the grounds of restrictions on co-productions.

However, they didn't expect that while they were hugging the young model, Lu Kuan had already contacted Jay Chou, who was in Hong Kong to promote his album "Octave Space".

In addition to CEPA, Taiwan and the mainland have already had a series of cultural and economic cooperation agreements during the harmonious period.

整个80-90年代，两边关系比较平稳，一直到1999年内地才出台电视剧及综艺节目的台湾省籍人士主创不能超过5个、综艺节目不能超过3个的规定。

With Jay Chou’s participation, the nature of the co-production was retained, and the hidden danger of approval was no longer encountered. Lu Kuan, who received triple compensation, could still continue his own project.

And his popularity in Asia will only lead to several advertising sponsors offering him bigger contracts.

Nicholas Tse, Edison Chen, and Liu Zeyu all looked at Zhang Jianting holding the memorandum of understanding in silence.

Zhang Jianting didn't care about the humiliation of being slapped in the face by Lu Kuan, whom he had just ridiculed. He looked at his lawyer with a grim face. The latter stammered and couldn't speak, but just shook his head helplessly.

"Lu Sheng, good tricks! I'll remember you!" Zhang Jianting slammed the words, turned around and left with Nicholas Tse and Edison Chen. The lawyer in a suit and tie hurriedly picked up the documents and chased after them.

"Why don't you leave?" Lu Kuan looked at Yu Wenle in the corner expressionlessly.

"I... Director Lu, I want to continue acting in Whiplash."

Unlike Nicholas Tse and Edison Chen, who are both second-generation, Yuen Woo's family fell on hard times during the 97 financial crisis, and his younger sister had to sell her car and watch to raise money for her studies.

He didn't want to, and it was difficult for him to, pay a termination fee that was three times his own salary.

Boss Lu sneered, "You can continue, but I'll cut your pay in half."

"yes..."

Yu Wenle felt as if all the strength in his body had been drained away. He struggled painfully inwardly for a while before he stammered in agreement.

Lu Kuan raised his eyebrows and handed him a cigarette: "Very good."

Liu Zeyu glared at Yu Wenle, wanting to curse him as a traitor, but he didn't know from what standpoint.

If he hadn't instigated it, Yu Wenle's pay would not have dropped so suddenly.

"Lu Kuan, you're just kidding, right? How could you possibly convince Jay Chou to act in your movie?"

It seemed as if Liu Zeyu was still dreaming of being in control of the situation and winning a battle thousands of miles away, but the next second his dream was shattered by Boss Lu's ruthless counterattack.

He didn't know how Lu Kuan, a total unknown with no works, persuaded the new Asian superstar to cross over and act in his low-budget movie.

Boss Lu smiled triumphantly and leisurely exhaled a puff of smoke. "Yeah, how did I do it?"

"Mr. Liu, 50 yuan to buy someone with a clear mind, okay?"

(End of this chapter)