Huayu: When the director changed his major

Chapter 208 Self-disciplined Director Cheng

After acquiring Wenxue.com for 3.7 million yuan.

Zuibai Entertainment originally estimated that it had 5.5 million yuan in available funds, but the final payment of more than 1 million yuan had not yet arrived.

There is only more than 6 million left in the account now.

More than 1 million yuan must be set aside to maintain company operations, APP development, etc.

When Cheng Xi thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh that he only regretted not having enough money when he needed it.

Well, it’s time to start making a lot of money again.

At this time, Xin Yukun, the winner of the Young Directors Competition, also found Cheng Xi.

His short film "The Man in the Coffin" has now been expanded into a movie script and handed to him.

The meaning is of course very clear. Boss, take a look and if it's okay, pay me and start working.

This is really taking advantage of the fact that you have little money to ask you for money.

But Cheng Xi still had an encouraging attitude, after all, the filming would make money for the company.

The two young director support programs also promised to provide support funds.

If you delay a project, you will discourage everyone, which is really unnecessary.

"Boss, I know the company is short of funds recently. I don't want 500 million for this project, 300 million will do."

"It's just that I might need my boss to coordinate with me about this actor."

Xin Yukun said a little anxiously that he saw the boss coming to work in the company today and hurried over to ask.

In fact, the notebook has been ready for a few days, but the boss has been busy and I didn’t dare to ask for it.

Everyone has heard that the company recently spent a lot of money to acquire a new literary website.

In the original content department, my boss’s boss was promoted.

So he didn't mention the 500 million.

"Sit here and make yourself some tea while I look at the book."

As Cheng Xi flipped through the book, he thought of the original work "Maze of the Heart".

The original name of "Maze of the Heart" was "Funeral Coffin", but it failed to pass the review so the name was changed.

Now because it was brought out for the competition in advance, it became "The Man in the Coffin".

To be honest, this name is more suitable for the script.

If "The Heart Labyrinth" had not been promoted and won awards, no one would have known what kind of movie it was when it was released in theaters.

At first glance, I thought it was an art film or a suspenseful psychological film.

It's easy to miss.

Cheng Xi knew that the original work cost more than 100 million yuan and earned 1000 million yuan at the box office.

I have watched this film several times myself, learning from the multiple narratives of Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and Ning Hao's "Crazy" series.

The later film "The Unknown" also used this technique.

The reason for the poor box office performance was that the actors were all amateurs, found in a theater.

Second, due to cost constraints, the filming was very rough.

The third is the subject matter, which is much darker than "Life Events".

Although "Life Events" is a funeral-themed film, at least its content, ending and essence are sunny.

This film is completely negative and it would not pass the review if the ending was not changed. As a result, the ending was only subtitled in the last frame.

Cheng Xi flipped through half of it and felt that it was similar to what he had remembered.

I flipped back to the end and read the ending.

The last few pages even give a rough outline of the shooting schedule, cast, and budget.

Everything is ready, come and lead my army.

Cheng Xi thought for a moment and said:
"Yukun, the script is good, better than your short film. But what is your goal? To win an award or to have it released in theaters? Do you want to make money?"

Xin Yukun didn't expect that the boss didn't ask about the budget, the script and plot, or the actors.

The first thing he said was whether it was an award or a theater.

This made it impossible for him to say a single word he had prepared.

After thinking for a while, Xin Yukun replied carefully:
"I want it to be shown in theaters and make money, and I also want it to win awards."

"That's not the same as not saying anything. Pick one."

"Want to make money."

Xin Yukun originally wanted to make money, but the original work had no chance of making money in theaters.

I can only go to the awards and take a roundabout way.

When Cheng Xi heard that he wanted to make money, that was it.

Save yourself the trouble.

If the first one doesn’t make money, what kind of movies do you want to make next?

And now the company is short of money. If you want to express yourself, you have to be rich or have elders like Director Lu.

You have nothing, so the company will definitely give you money based on your return.

"If you want to make money, I have two ideas."

"First, the ending needs to be changed. It's too dark. I can't deny that it's more impactful this way. But people pay to watch your movie in theaters, and they still want to get some bright answers or expectations. And I think it's hard to get it approved like this."

"Secondly, I'll co-sign the screenwriter section. Otherwise, Zuibai Company alone probably won't attract enough people to buy tickets to the theater. If you think I'm stealing the fruits of your labor, just ignore what I said and go with the award-winning route."

Of course, Cheng Xi was not so bored that he grabbed a small notebook made like this.

If I wasn't short of money, I wouldn't want to sign my name. After all, everyone has seen the short film, and it was shot by Xin Yukun.

At most, I can now say that I was responsible for the adaptation, and the public will accept it.

"It's my honor to have my name signed by the boss. This will boost the movie's box office. I can't thank the boss enough!"

When Cheng Xi heard Xin Yukun was very excited, he thought to himself, you are sensible.

Whether you really think so or not, Cheng Xi is really just doing business.

"As for the ending, I'll change it! Boss, give me a few more days."

"It won't take a few days, let's meet now. Since I want to be listed as the screenwriter, let's make it a reality."

Then the two of them spent the whole morning chatting about the script in the office.

Cheng Xi made many suggestions based on his impressions and understanding of current professional screenwriters.

Only then did Xin Yukun understand the value of Zuibai's screenwriting.

Indeed, this is the only way that audiences are more willing to spend money to buy tickets, rather than making it seem particularly bitter and resentful.

In some places, the bosses handle things with more warmth and dry humor.

It also didn't destroy the original tone of the script. He is indeed the screenwriter of "Life Events".

"Boss, these changes you made are amazing. I've learned a lot!"

"No wonder I haven't touched the threshold in all these years. Thank you, boss, for giving me some advice."

Cheng Xi also found it funny to hear Xin Yukun's exaggerated flattery.

This director was not as stubborn as he had imagined.

I argued with Cheng Xi.

Many creators seem to have mental mysophobia and cannot allow anyone to change or comment on their works.

This makes it difficult to grow.

You can choose not to change, but you cannot stop listening and absorbing progress.

"Okay, that's it. Go and ask Mr. Li to come over."

After Li Wentao came in, Cheng Xi said in front of the two of them:

"Wentao, I've read Yukun's book. It's well written."

"You can invest 500 million in the name of the company, and then ask China Film Group and Mr. Zeng if they are willing to invest. The maximum amount you can give is 200 million."

"The assistant director will be Liu Jiangjiang. I won't interfere with other matters, you guys handle them yourselves."

Cheng Xi's support plan at the time clearly stated that it would be no less than 500 million.

Of course Cheng Xi would not give 300 million or something, as that would only damage his own reputation.

Liu Jiangjiang was asked to assist because he is familiar with funeral themes and has been dealing with rural areas for a long time.

Let him practice as well.

When Xin Yukun heard that the investment amount was 700 million, it was more than twice what he had expected.

What’s more, the boss also gave the screenwriter’s credit, which made me very happy.

As long as I don’t let you down in this first shot, there will definitely be a chance.

He was very confident in his notebook, not to mention that he had made a lot of improvements to it just this morning.

Not only did Xin Yukun come to see him, but Cheng Xi was also about to go back to school after get off work in the morning.

Unexpectedly, Jing Tian called:

"Junior brother, our team watched your movie 'Diamond Lover' and they asked who the male lead who was acting with me was?"

"The male lead hasn't been decided yet, maybe Zhu Yilong."

"Where's the second female lead?"

"The second female lead has been confirmed to be played by Reba. What's the matter? Are you worried that the actor's status won't be enough for you?"

Jing Tian is quite popular now and her status is pretty good.

But since you don’t have any representative works, people don’t know what level of star they should categorize you as.

Her collaborators are all top celebrities, but she is just not very popular.

"Reba and Zhu Yilong, right? Where are you this afternoon? I'll bring my agent to talk to you."

"If your agent comes, just go to Zuibai Entertainment. Can't you just come to me alone?"

Jing Tian on the other end of the phone fell silent after hearing this.

"Let's talk this afternoon."

Then he hung up the phone.

Li Wentao was surprised to see that his boss had not left at noon.

Before he could ask, Cheng Xi said:
"Come on, take me to the staff meal."

The so-called employee meal is the cafeteria on the second floor of the Cube Building.

This office building has a variety of restaurants specially prepared for the white-collar workers in the building.

Northern and Southern cuisine, noodles, rice, stir-fries, fast food, halal.
When Cheng Xi arrived at the restaurant, he saw that there were quite a lot of options.

Cheng Xi's Zuibai Entertainment is quite conscientious and subsidizes employees' lunch expenses by 25 yuan per person.

Enough for a full meal in 2012.

Because the lunch break is only from 12:1 to :, and the traffic in Yanjing is really congested.

It is impossible to go home and then go to the company at noon with such a short time. It would be too tiring.

So Cheng Xi found a benefit for everyone.

This is also the consistent style of Zuibai Group, trying not to treat employees unfairly, and the welfare benefits are definitely a breath of fresh air among many companies.

But the artists in the company rarely come down to eat, as they spend very little time in the company.

So when Cheng Xi came to the cafeteria, many people recognized him.

Pointing at him while eating.

Everyone knows that the 7th floor is Zuibai Entertainment Company, but this is the first time I have seen the chairman.

"Is Zuibai really that young?"

"This is the first time we've seen him in the cafeteria. Should we go up and ask for his autograph?"

"Other people are having a meal, and you're asking for their autographs. How polite of you to ask?"

"Just take a few pictures. We all work in the same building, so we'll see each other again in the future."

But there were still a few brave girls who waited for Cheng Xi to finish eating.

I came to Cheng Xi to ask for his autograph and take a photo.

"Director Cheng, please sign an autograph for us. I really like the TV series and movies you've made!"

"Director Cheng, I like you very much too. Can we take a photo together?"

If it wasn’t their first time in the cafeteria, and these girls were not only brave.

If she was dressed too boldly, Cheng Xi would definitely reject her because she was not pretty.

Watching them making scissors hands with great joy while sandwiching themselves in the middle with their cool bodies.

Cheng Xi also smiled, what a youthful smile.

No wonder some people like to be idols while others like to be fans.

Everyone has the desire to make love.

But the process guide is very self-disciplined.

He doesn't fuck with fans.

He fucks people in the circle.

(End of this chapter)