The movie "The Dream Factory" grossed 25 million yuan at the box office in one week, from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the seventh day.
This result far exceeded Liang Liang's expectations.
He thought it would be good if the box office could reach more than ten million during the few days of the Lunar New Year.
After all, this was 1997, and a movie ticket only cost two or three yuan.
Liang Liang obtained this data after he returned to the company on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.
During the Spring Festival, only a very few movies were shown in cinemas until the Lantern Festival.
"The Dream Factory" can have many screenings and can last until the Lantern Festival. Therefore, it is a sure thing that the box office of this movie will surpass that of the previous one.
If we expand our imagination a bit further, fifty million isn't out of the question.
In the 1990s, cinema chains were still state-owned, and they were nowhere near as unscrupulous as the later private chains that wanted to take 57% of the revenue.
During this period, the production company could still receive 55% of the revenue.
This movie will bring in 20 million yuan in revenue for Haiyun Audio-Visual without any problem.
It seems that making movies still has a future.
He haphazardly assembled a group of novices and achieved such results; if he had professional staff, the profits might have been even higher.
We need to find some professional talent; we can't keep relying on copycat lineups to succeed.
Liang Liang then dialed the phone number Zhang Xie had left him.
"Hey Zhang, this is Liang Liang. When are you coming to work at Haiyun Company?"
Zhang Xie was still confused: "Why should I go to work at Haiyun Company?"
"What do you mean by that? Are you planning to renege on your bet?"
Zhang Xie finally came to his senses and remembered the bet he made with Liang Liang in October.
"You mean your lousy movie grossed ten million at the box office?"
"What do you mean by 'cringeworthy movie'? From the first day of the Lunar New Year to last night, it grossed 25 million in a week. Aren't you scared?"
"Holy crap!" Zhang Xie cursed on the other end of the phone.
"Your lousy movie... a good movie, it grossed 25 million at the box office? Do you think I'd believe that?"
"You have to believe it or not. This isn't over yet. Our movie will be showing until the Lantern Festival. Based on the current box office accumulation, it might even reach 50 million. Surprised? Excited?"
"This...this is just too outrageous!"
"Forget about justice or not, you should think about when you're going to come work for our Haiyun Company."
"Mr. Liang! You really intend to let me work for you?"
"You think this is a joke? You don't have to come, just compensate us for our losses."
What losses did you suffer?
"Emotional loss! You lost the bet, and I got so angry that my stomach hurts—that's a loss."
Zhang Xie remained silent for more than ten seconds on the other end of the phone.
"Then what would I do there?"
"Director? We wouldn't hire you to grow potatoes, but can you direct a movie?"
"Yes! But I've never directed a film independently."
"Would you like to direct a movie yourself?"
"Isn't that obvious? Of course I've wanted to, but I haven't had the chance!"
"Then you should come to me! Come here and I'll give you a huge area to guide you through."
"Blockbuster! What kind of blockbuster can you make?"
"Titan Tank, what a great name, right? It's a co-production between China and foreign countries."
Zhang Xie was completely bewildered: "Foreign companies too?"
"There are no foreign companies, but there are foreign actors."
"So, what kind of tank are you referring to? How much investment is required?"
Three million!
Zhang Xie felt a spark fly in his mind: "Are you kidding me! What kind of blockbuster can you make with three million?"
That's enough to make a decent film.
You'll see when you get here!
"Let me think about it."
"You have no choice but to either come and work within three days, or you're prepared to pay compensation. There's a written agreement. That's all I have to say."
After saying that, Liang Liang hung up the phone.
Damn it! I thought it was a joke, but I actually took it seriously.
Zhang Xie muttered something while looking at the phone.
He searched high and low for a long time and finally found a document in a notebook.
He didn't take the contract seriously when he signed it, and he didn't read it carefully.
Now I was shocked to see the compensation of 100,000 yuan!
It was clearly written in black and white that if he lost the bet, he would have to work at Haiyun Audio-Visual Company for three years, earning 300 yuan a month, with a year-end bonus, and the company would pay his insurance.
If he doesn't go, he will have to compensate Haiyun Audio-Visual Company for a loss of 100,000 yuan.
Damn it, that was too hasty! Even if you chopped him up and sold him, you still wouldn't get 100,000 yuan!
I feel like I've been scammed.
So what if I don't go?
Although the contract bears the signer's signature, it has little legal validity without notarization by a lawyer.
Even if you go to court, the other party may not necessarily win.
However, the idea that if he went there, the other party would immediately offer him a film to direct would be very tempting for him.
If it's true, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Should we go or not?
Zhang Xie couldn't make up his mind and paced back and forth in the room like an ant on a hot pan.
We should ask Director Xie for advice.
Zhang Xie went to ask Xie Jin.
Liang Liang put down the phone and shook her head.
He wasn't sure if Zhang Xie would come, and if he didn't, he might not ask for compensation.
Actually, the loss for Zhang Xie is his own. If he comes to Haiyun, he can immediately direct a movie independently. If he stays at Beijing Film Studio, those old directors won't retire for a while, so there's nothing for him to do.
Whether Zhang Xie comes or not is out of the question for Liang Liang; now it's time to consider cultivating a superstar.
It's time for Zhao Lunjie to make his appearance.
This September, Green Island's future superstar will enter the entertainment industry, officially beginning his legendary career in the music world.
Although this superstar didn't say anything outrageous and identified with China, Liang Liang felt that it would be better for a superstar of this caliber to appear in mainland China.
Liang Liang was considering whether his style would have a market in 1997.
Liang Liang didn't really remember many of the songs from this superstar's first album, except for "Lovely Woman".
Liang Liang is prepared to abandon this album and start directly with the album "Fantasy".
Since discovering Zhao Lunjie last summer, Liang Liang has put him into a learning state for the past six months.
Although he disliked R&B and HIP-HOP styles very much, he still exposed Zhao Lunjie to a lot of this type of Western music over the past six months.
I wonder how well this guy is doing with his studies?
If his studies go well, Liang Liang plans to let him start making public appearances this year, and let those songs test the waters in the market as singles.
If he seems to have some potential, Liang Liang plans to release an album for him by the end of the year.
Speaking of albums, Liang Liang naturally thought of Ocean Waves, as well as two other girl groups.
This year, we'll launch these three girl groups first, followed by two boy groups.
Why do I suddenly feel like I have a heavy burden on my shoulders?
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