Chapter 862: Digging a Gold Mine
The investment from Guowen Publishing House solved Aitexin’s urgent problem. During this period, Aitexin was almost unable to pay the salaries.
The company's main business is not profitable. The only income comes from Zhang Chaoyang and the company's technical backbones designing web pages for other units to make money. This is not only the only revenue channel for iTsun, but also the only revenue channel for many domestic Internet companies today.
After receiving the money from Guowen Publishing House, Zhang Chaoyang did not forget the condition he had promised to Lin Weimin, and began to send people to help Guowen Publishing House create a website.
Having given up the idea of building his own website, Lin Weimin no longer had such high requirements for the official website of Guowen Publishing House. However, after he put forward his requirements, several technical backbones of Atxin still felt a little nervous.
It was easy for Party A to make the request, and they were working very hard. However, after they carefully reviewed Lin Weimin's plan and requirements for the official website of Guowenshe, they found that it was even more scientific and practical than Atexin's current website.
After listening to his subordinates, Zhang Chaoyang said only one sentence: "Learn from it!"
Time passed quickly and it was mid-August. That morning, Lin Weimin went to the printing factory in Daxing to check on the work. When he returned to the agency at noon, he heard Zhao Xin say that the office had called him in the morning.
Lin Weimin picked up the phone and called the office back. As soon as Yu answered the phone, he complained: "You are a bureau-level cadre. Can you use a pager instead of a mobile phone? You can't be found at the critical moment."
Director Yu called just now and heard that Lin Weimin went to the printing factory in Daxing. He called the printing factory again, but they told him that he had just left and should be on the way now.
Listening to Director Yu's tone, Lin Weimin knew that this must be an urgent matter.
"Stop complaining and tell me what's going on."
"Come to the office right away and go to the sea with me."
When Lin Weimin heard this, he asked, "What's the matter? Why do we have to go to the sea?"
"Don't ask too much. It's a big deal anyway."
Director Yu refused to reveal any information on the phone, and it seemed like the matter was quite serious, but Lin Weimin already had some guesses in his mind.
After hanging up the phone, he first went to the Publishing Office to meet up with Yu, then went into the sea and was taken directly to Vice Prime Minister Zhu's office.
"I heard that your Guowen Society has recently started investing in Internet companies?"
Yu Shu glanced at Lin Weimin, and Lin Weimin replied, "Yes, it's called Aitexin, an Internet company founded by a Shuimu graduate who returned from studying abroad. We invested 375,000 US dollars and got 25% of the shares."
"375,000 dollars for 25% of the shares, so the company is worth 1.5 million dollars? I heard that the company is very small, so it's not worth 1.5 million dollars anyway."
"In 1995, the Nasdaq index broke through 1,000 points. On August 9 of that year, Netscape went public. Within two hours of opening, 5 million shares were snapped up. The closing price was US$58 million, and Netscape's market value was US$2.3 billion. At that time, Netscape's annual revenue was only at the level of US$1 million.
The bubble in the US Internet industry is huge, but Americans are not fools. So many people and institutions are optimistic about this industry because they see the huge potential it holds.
I am very optimistic about the development of this industry, but our Chinese Literature Press is a public institution. If we rashly engage in the Internet, it would be a bit beyond our capabilities.
After much thought, I decided it would be better to invest in a few businesses.”
Vice Prime Minister Zhu smiled and said to Shu: "I hear this, why does it sound a bit like a complaint? It seems that you think our feedback from the higher-ups is not timely enough?"
Lin Weimin quickly waved his hand and said, "Leader, please don't misunderstand me. I don't mean that."
Yu Shu helplessly defended himself, "He always likes to spread rumors, he's very troublesome!"
"Haha! I know Comrade Weimin's reputation." Vice Prime Minister Zhu laughed heartily. "Okay, okay, this is all a joke. Your office has already reported your idea to us at the beginning of the year. This is a big deal and it's not easy to decide. You have to understand."
Lin Weimin nodded, "I understand."
He has to understand even if he doesn't understand!
Then, Vice Prime Minister Zhu asked Lin Weimin some questions, he answered truthfully, and then asked Yu Shu for his opinion.
After the exchange, Vice Prime Minister Zhu did not say much, but just said to Lin Weimin before he left: "Don't be in a hurry to do things, take your time."
Lin Weimin nodded.
After Lin Weimin and Yu Shu were out to sea, he asked, "Yu Shu, is this going to work out?"
Yu Shu said: "Didn't the deputy prime minister tell you? Don't be anxious."
"I understand, I understand. Next year's vice-prime minister..."
Yu Shu immediately said: "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't say anything!"
Lin Weimin looked at his leader with disdain. What a coward!
After going to the sea to meet the Deputy Prime Minister, Lin Weimin felt relieved. The past six months of waiting were not in vain, and there was finally hope.
The next evening, a unique celebration party was being held in the banquet hall of the Yanjing Hotel.
The organizer of the celebration party is Mandarin Films, and the theme is naturally "Hero Box Office Celebration Party."
It has been a month and a half since "Hero" was released on July 1, and the film has dominated the Chinese film market for a month and a half.
After its long run, the box office potential of Hero has been largely exhausted.
Since the fourth week, pirated DVDs have been rampant in the market. The box office in the fifth week was 22.6 million yuan, and in the sixth week it was 11.4 million yuan. The total box office of "Hero" reached about 308.6 million yuan.
308.6 million RMB!
The appearance of "Hero" broke a series of records in Chinese film history, and at the same time raised the highest box office of Chinese films to a level that countless domestic film practitioners need to look up to.
The movie has not been taken off the screen yet. The screening time of this movie will be extended to three months. Although there is still a month and a half before it is taken off the screen, the box office revenue in the future will definitely not be that much.
Because just yesterday, "Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World" was officially released.
Following "Hero", the domestic film market once again welcomed a box office harvester.
But no matter what, the appearance of "Hero" is a shot in the arm for domestic films that have been sluggish in the past two years.
Since the release of this movie, there has been constant discussion and debate in the domestic film industry. Although everyone is arguing, no one can deny the commercial success of "Hero" and the inspiration it has brought to Chinese films.
"Hero" proves that Chinese people can also make commercial blockbusters that are no less than Hollywood's, and that Chinese people don't just like to watch American stories. It also proves Zhang Yimou's talent in movies.
Since his debut, Zhang Yimou has always shot literary and artistic films about old China and rural themes. This is the impression he has left on the Chinese film industry and moviegoers, and is also the basis for his fame in the world film scene.
After shooting three films of this type in a row, "Red Sorghum", "Raise the Red Lantern" and "Qiu Ju Goes to Court", Zhang Yimou has been seeking transformation. The attempt with "Raise the Red Lantern" was somewhat unsuccessful, while "If You Are the One" was considered a success, but compared with his previous achievements, the progress is not that great.
It was not until the birth of "Hero" that the Chinese people finally saw Zhang Yimou's true ability in film. He is not only capable of making literary films that tell the slow-paced stories of humanity and history, but also of making thrilling and wonderful commercial blockbusters.
Except for a small group of filmmakers who are obsessed with the idea that only art films are the best, the entire domestic film industry is now full of admiration for Zhang Yimou's directing ability and artistic talent demonstrated in "Hero".
"Hero" completely broke through the barriers and embarrassment that Zhang Yimou faced in artistic creation in recent years.
"Congratulations, Director Yimou!" Huang Jianxin came to Zhang Yimou, who was surrounded by a group of people, holding a glass of wine and said enthusiastically.
Zhang Yimou showed an honest smile, "Director Huang, thank you for the compliment."
The reason why today's press conference is unique is mainly because it is held in the form of a Western buffet. When entering the banquet hall, it feels like walking into an American movie.
Today is the celebration party for "Hero", and director Zhang Yimou is the undisputed protagonist of the night.
The box office of "Hero" has exceeded 300 million yuan. This cannot be explained simply by the record-breaking investment, nor by the luxurious star lineup, nor by the attractive story alone.
These are certainly some of the factors that contributed to the film's success, but if we have to name the key factor that made "Hero" such a brilliant success, it would have to be director Zhang Yimou.
As soon as the celebration party began, Zhang Yimou appeared and attracted the attention of all the guests.
In the past month or so, there has been no more dazzling person in the Chinese film industry than Zhang Yimou.
From the moment he appeared, there was a constant stream of people surrounding him, praising him non-stop, like the moon surrounded by stars.
Zhang Yimou responded to everyone's attention humbly and politely. He is not a rookie, and facing so much attention and praise, he was happy in his heart, but he remained calm and composed.
After chatting with everyone for a while, Zhang Yimou came to Yu Dong and asked, "Mr. Yu, why hasn't Teacher Lin come yet?"
"The president said he won't come anymore!"
"ah!"
Zhang Yimou was somewhat surprised and showed a bit of loss on his face, just like a primary school student who got full marks in the exam and returned home to find that his parents were not there.
Yu Dong patted his shoulder and said, "It's almost time. Come on stage with me."
At 8:10 in the evening, Yu Dong led the main creative staff of the "Hero" crew onto the temporary stage.
The guests standing in the audience included the investors and producers of the movie "Hero", leaders and owners of many domestic production studios, distribution companies, film and television companies, as well as many well-known actors, screenwriters and directors.
The eyes of hundreds of guests present were cast on the stage, forming a keen attention.
Everyone present today is a film practitioner. Except for a few stakeholders of "Hero", who else can not be jealous of the creators of "Hero"?
These are the creators of a movie that created a box office of 300 million!
"Hello everyone……"
On the stage, Yu Dong, as the general manager of Wenhua Film and Television, first delivered a passionate speech.
The success of "Hero" has certainly raised the status of Wenhua Film and Television in the domestic film and television industry, and now it has become a leader, but tonight, Yu Dong is destined to be just a supporting role.
Zhang Yimou spoke after him, and the applause was deafening, much more enthusiastic than when Yu Dong finished his speech.
After Zhang Yimou's speech, many people were whispering in the audience, and some directors, screenwriters and actors were chatting the most enthusiastically.
Because everyone talked about one issue, which is movie dividends.
It is no longer news in the domestic film industry that Wenhua Films gives dividends to the film's creative team. This time, "Hero" has earned more than 300 million yuan at the box office. In addition to caring about the film itself, what everyone cares most about is of course the dividends for the creative team.
The box office of "Hero" exceeded 300 million, and the dividends of the main creators were included in the profits of the production company.
This time, the film producers can get at least 135 million yuan. After deducting the production costs, there is 35 million yuan left. After deducting taxes, the main creative team can get a 10% dividend, which is about 2 million yuan.
It doesn't seem like much, but that's just the box office in mainland China.
Wenhua Films positioned "Hero" as a commercial blockbuster for global audiences. Wenhua not only has a plan in film positioning, but also in dividends.
The main creative team of "Hero" will participate in the global box office share of the film.
In other words, in addition to the box office revenue in mainland China, the main creators are eligible to participate in the dividends from the box office revenue in all countries and regions where the films are released overseas, as long as the production, publicity and distribution costs are covered.
This is the bulk of the dividends!
Yu Dong just said on the stage that "Hero" was released in Hong Kong two days ago and achieved a box office of 26.8 million Hong Kong dollars, ranking among the top four box office movies in Hong Kong this year. Although the year has not ended yet, it should be effortless to rank in the top ten in the year-end inventory.
A rough calculation shows that the box office creators in Hong Kong can easily get one or two million Hong Kong dollars. This is just one region, and the film market in Hong Kong is not that big.
"Hero" will be released in dozens of countries and regions around the world. As they are released one by one, as long as the box office is good, the creators will make a lot of money just from the dividends.
This is not just participating in a movie, it's clearly digging up a gold mine!
(End of this chapter)
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