novelraw Chapter 44 - The Rivalry of the Top Actress, Always This Way
Chapter 44 - The Rivalry of the Top Actress, Always This Way
Chapter 44 The Rivalry of the Top Actress, Always This Way
At Xinhua Mian Film Industry, Conference Room, The poor performance of Three Guns cast a heavy shadow over this legendary domestic film company.
Before filming Three Guns, Zhang Guoshi, due to his involvement in preparing for the Olympics, had suspended the company’s activities for three years. After a hiatus, the first blockbuster film the company released ended up being a huge loss.
With 80 million yuan in production costs and 20 million yuan in promotional expenses, Xinhua Mian bore a heavy financial burden, covering 80% of the total investment.
Such a high investment only returned 60 million yuan in box office earnings, of which Xinhua Mian Film Industry would receive roughly 21 to 23 million yuan. This 20 million or so had to be shared with other investors, as well as the director’s share and various other expenses.
After all that, the remaining funds would barely be enough to buy a new script. Three Guns was adapted from Blood Maze, and Xinhua Mian paid 2 million US dollars for the rights to adapt the script, about 14 million yuan.
When everything was tallied up, they didn’t even make a profit—they ended up with a considerable loss.
Zhang Weiping, looking downcast, took a drag from his cigarette and said, “The commercial film market is so hot, how could we still lose money? Damn it, we shouldn’t have worked with De Yun Society! Those crosstalk actors are worse than those two-man troupes from the northeast!”
Sitting quietly beside him, Zhang Guoshi silently smoked his cigarette, not responding. The deep friendship he had formed with Ben Shan Uncle when they filmed Happy Times in 2000 was being belittled by Zhang Weiping, and it bothered him.
“My dear Zhang Dao, at least say something! If the company isn’t making money, how can we support your big films and your artistic work in the future?” Zhang Weiping pleaded with his old collaborator.
Zhang Yimou took a shoulder bag that was sitting next to him, pulled out a book and a script synopsis, and placed them in front of Zhang Weiping.
“Try this one.”
Zhang Weiping looked at it with confusion, reading the title aloud.
“The Love of Hawthorn Trees? A romance film?”
“Mm. To be precise, it’s an artistic romance film. Similar to Lost in Love 33 Days,” Zhang Guoshi explained.
Hearing Lost in Love 33 Days, Zhang Weiping immediately frowned and said unhappily, “We don’t need to just copy others.”
“Well, there’s another option. Give me 80 million more for production, and I’ll try filming a 3D blockbuster, like Avatar,” Zhang Guoshi suggested.
80 million yuan—less than 10 million US dollars—making Avatar? That was just a dream.
Considering this wildly unrealistic idea, Zhang Weiping quickly replied, “How much would The Love of Hawthorn Trees cost to produce?”
Zhang Yimou replied, “By using new actors and continuing with digital filming, the cost can probably be controlled between 10 to 20 million.”
Zhang Weiping asked, “What’s the expected box office? And when do you think it will be finished?”
He was genuinely anxious…
In the past, Zhang Weiping would never have asked such questions. It seemed that Three Guns had really hurt him badly.
Xinhua Mian Film Industry
Conference Room
Zhang Yimou: “Referring to Lost in Love 33 Days, I think the box office will likely be around 200 to 300 million. For the schedule, we can start filming in March and wrap up by May to catch the summer slot.”
Zhang Weiping: “Good. Let’s film this one. We need to make a profitable film quickly. Also, Three Guns will be participating in this year’s Berlin Film Festival selection. You need to come with me to see if we can recover the production costs through overseas channels.”
“Okay.”
…
Yiming Media
Chairman’s Office
Qu Yiming was flipping through the financial reports prepared by his mother. The 9 million yuan in box office revenue from Journey to the West had already been credited, but it was directly added to Qu Yiming’s personal account since he had won a bet with Ben Shan Media—this wasn’t considered company income.
Last year, the company’s main source of profit came from Lost in Love 33 Days, which earned over 30 million yuan in advertising placement revenue. In addition, Zhang Tian’ai’s endorsement fees brought in 30 million (before tax).
The company signed a twenty-year contract with Zhang Tian’ai, with a 50-50 revenue split. The first batch of box office earnings from Lost in Love 33 Days would arrive around March. As of now, the company’s pre-tax revenue was over 60 million yuan, and after taxes, there was still more than 30 million yuan left. There was no room for tax evasion.
Qu Yiming was also supervising Zhang Tian’ai’s personal income tax to ensure she paid it honestly. She paid over 10 million yuan in taxes, which almost made Zhang Tian’ai cry.
Paying taxes honestly was a bottom-line rule for surviving in the entertainment industry. Overall, the company was profitable last year. Things were steadily improving.
“Son, are you going to be on the Spring Festival Gala this year?” The finance department director, Qu Yiming’s mother, asked as she noticed he had put down the financial reports.
All department heads in the company had been promoted to directors.
“I’m not sure.”
Qu Yiming shook his head.
“The program could be cut the day before the Spring Festival Gala. Mom, all taxes have been paid, right?”
Qu Yiming’s mother replied, “Everything’s been paid. The company doesn’t have many business dealings, so all the taxes are clear. Besides, I don’t want to end up working at a sewing machine.”
She said, rolling her eyes at her son.
“Hehe…”
Qu Yiming laughed.
“Well then, distribute the year-end bonuses. Tonight is the company’s annual party. After it, everyone gets time off for the New Year holiday.”
Chinese New Year’s Eve was on February 13th, and today was February 4th. Apart from the social media department and necessary staff, all departments would be on holiday until the Lantern Festival. Employees who stayed would receive triple pay.
In short, the company’s benefits were excellent. Of course, the punishment measures were strict as well. Employees who violated company rules would be fined one month’s salary for the first offense, and immediately dismissed for the second offense.
…
At the Evening, in Company Annual Party, though called an annual party, the scale was modest. Yiming Media currently had more than seventy employees, so they rented a restaurant and set up seven tables.
The food was abundant, with many different dishes. The most valuable dish was still the year-end bonus. The year-end bonuses for the artists and management staff were given privately. Other employees received theirs personally from Qu Yiming.
After distributing the bonuses, Qu Yiming returned to the private room. The company’s artists and management were eating together in the room.
“Auntie, try this dish, it’s really delicious,” said Yang Mi, an artist with Yiming Media, as she offered food to Qu Yiming’s mother.
“Auntie, have some tea,” Zhang Tian’ai said, immediately refilling the tea in Qu Yiming’s mother’s cup when it ran low.
Upon seeing this, the management team probably guessed the hidden situation and all silently ate their food without speaking. With such generous year-end bonuses and Qu Yiming being such a good boss, no wonder he was enjoying his success.
Is this the rivalry of the top actress?
Jin Chen and Li Yidong watched with great interest. Xing Zhi Lei didn’t go over to Qu Yiming’s mother’s side, but instead sat next to Qu Yiming, peeling shrimp for him.
Whether or not Qu Yiming liked shrimp didn’t matter; it was just a signal being sent.
1, 2, 3…
Three daughter-in-laws!
As someone with experience, Qu Yiming’s mother immediately saw through the situation. Smiling after accepting the kindness from Zhang Tian’ai and Yang Mi, she turned to give her son a fierce glare. Qu Yiming, unfazed, continued eating the shrimp peeled by Xing Zhi Lei.