Chapter 484: Making Small Moves

After being elected as a legislator, Hu Xiaoxiao shifted her focus to the mainland market. In addition to recruiting mainland artists, she also vigorously expanded the Shengshi Cinema Line. With the help of partners, the development of the cinema line has been very smooth, and it can be said that it is unstoppable.

When Shengshi Cinema Chain broke through 100 cinemas in the mainland, the Hollywood movie "The Contract" was finally about to be released.

Hu Xiaoxiao's main focus was on his mainland career. Due to his busy schedule, he hadn't taken on any roles in a while, aside from some important commercial engagements. He hadn't paid attention to the progress of "The Magic Contract" since filming wrapped. However, Dong Peiyu kept a close eye on him, and since Hu Xiaoxiao, whom she primarily supervised, had significantly reduced his activities, she had more time to focus on Hollywood.

This was Hu Xiaoxiao's first Hollywood film, and her agent, Dong Peiyu, was more concerned than anyone else. Therefore, she kept a close eye on the progress of "The Magic Contract" and even asked people in Hollywood to help gather information about the film's popularity, market response, and news about Hamlet Company.

The news from that side continued to come in non-stop. As soon as the release date of "The Magic Contract" was announced, Dong Peiyu received a lot of information, some of which was internal information.

After reading the internal information of Hamlet Company, Dong Peiyu's face looked a little ugly, and she immediately went to find Hu Xiaoxiao.

"Xiaoxiao, Hamlet Company is really shady."

Hu Xiaoxiao was reading the monthly report and looked up to ask, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the Demonic Contract?"

Dong Peiyu sat across from Hu Xiaoxiao and said, "I received inside information from Hamlet Company. They are planning to do something tricky in the movie 'Magic Contract' in order to promote Emily."

"Tell me about it." Hu Xiaoxiao looked down at the monthly report again and asked.

Dong Peiyu was so angry that she wanted to slam the table and said, "They plan to make two versions, one for the European and American markets, and one for the Asian market. The European and American version will highlight Emily, and Emily's role will be featured more than yours. In other words, they plan to cut your scenes from the European and American versions. They even want to put your name and Emily's name on the movie poster together."

Dong Peiyu was furious. Hu Xiaoxiao's attention was still on the monthly report, not even looking up. "Where's the Asian edition?"

"It's more of a special edition than an Asian version. In this Asian special edition, they gave you more scenes, listed your name as the female lead, and Emily as the supporting actress." Dong Peiyu was furious. She had originally supported Hu Xiaoxiao in this film so that he could become well-known in Hollywood and break into the Hollywood market, but now, with this twist, Hu Xiaoxiao has become a supporting role, serving as a foil for the others. "Xiaoxiao, why aren't you angry at all?"

"Is getting angry any use? I expected they would do these little tricks." In Hollywood, actors from other places can never get any advantage. It is a very exclusive market.

"So just let them do it?"

"How is that possible?" Is it so easy to take advantage of her?

Hu Xiaoxiao finally finished the monthly report and said, "Since I had anticipated their actions, I was prepared."

Dong Peiyu sat up straight and asked, "What are you going to do?"

"We've already done what needs to be done." Hu Xiaoxiao was much calmer than Dong Peiyu and said, "Even if they wanted to delete my scene, they wouldn't dare go too far. I guess at most they'd blur the lines a little with the female lead."

Meeting Dong Peiyu's puzzled look, Hu Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "If they dare to cut out a lot of my scenes and let Emily steal my limelight, the sponsors won't let them go."

When Hu Xiaoxiao helped find sponsors, she was also cautious. Therefore, in her performances, she often wore high-end brand clothing or jewelry. These product placements were written into the contract. If Hamlet dared to remove them, the two sponsors would definitely sue Hamlet.

Hamlet doesn't want to be saddled with this lawsuit, so this insider information is likely a bit exaggerated. They really want to promote Emily and blur the lines between the heroine, but when it comes to cutting content, it's quite difficult.

Dong Peiyu breathed a sigh of relief after understanding, but she still felt uncomfortable inside.

Hu Xiaoxiao handed Dong Peiyu a monthly report on the mainland market and said, "Don't you exchange emails with Philip? Tell Philip that Shengshi Cinema Line already has hundreds of cinemas in the mainland market, as well as its plans for future cinema construction."

The 100 cinemas of Shengshi Cinema Line may not seem like a lot, but they are all built in first- and second-tier cities. They are the main source of box office revenue and have a very heavy market share.

Hu Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then said to Dong Peiyu, "You should reveal this inside information of Hamlet Company to the two sponsors."

If the two sponsors knew about this, they would definitely protest strongly. Having them watching would be more effective than Hu Xiaoxiao's protest.

Dong Peiyu finally cheered up and said, "I'll do it right away."

Hu Xiaoxiao stopped Dong Peiyu, who was in a hurry to leave, and ordered, "Tell Philip that I was very angry when I heard the news."

Hu Xiaoxiao emphasized that she was very angry about something.

Dong Peiyu understood immediately: the consequence of being very angry will affect their ability to obtain mainland quotas.

"With this threat, they won't dare to stir up trouble in the Demonic Contract again."

Hu Xiaoxiao smiled meaningfully, "The Demonic Contract is over now. We can use this as an excuse to gain benefits in the future."

"What's the benefit?"

"I've researched the mainland film and television industry and discovered that the quality of film directors, both in mainland China and in Hong Kong, lags far behind Hollywood. I'd like to partner with a Hollywood company and send a group of directors there to learn. I'm struggling to find the right reason or the right company. How about starting with this first, and then..."

Then we can negotiate terms.

First, a group of directors were sent there to learn, and then other production staff were sent there.

Hollywood already has the experience, so why bother trying to cross the river by feeling the stones? Wouldn't it be better to learn their advanced technology and accelerate the development of domestic film and television?

Moreover, being able to cooperate with Hollywood companies to help cultivate talents in the film and television industry will enable Hu Xiaoxiao to gain a lot of fame in the mainland film and television industry.

Dong Peiyu and Hu Xiaoxiao cooperated very well. Knowing what Hu Xiaoxiao meant, Dong Peiyu immediately set about doing it.

Back in Hollywood, Philip received Dong Peiyu's email, and it was his turn to pound the table in anger: How could they, so far away in Baogang, know about Hamlet Company's situation? They had just been discussing the feasibility of two versions of "The Magic Contract" in a meeting, and someone far away on the other side of the Pacific had already received the news?

Hu Xiaoxiao is very angry?

Philip's eyes went dark as he recalled the time when Hu Xiaoxiao was very angry about the costume issue. That was almost the most anxious time in his life.