Chapter 28 It’s impossible to work part-time

On the seventh day, Lin Yicheng said goodbye to his parents and returned to the capital.

I hired a van directly from the airport to bring my luggage back, and paid the driver to carry it upstairs as well.

Looking at the large and small luggage in the room, Lin Yicheng had only one thought.

You have to buy a house, a big one!
In the next few days, Lin Yicheng visited his aunt's house, his uncle's house, and his two mentors' homes one by one, bringing gifts and Shaanxi specialties.

Finally finished these chores.

……

After that, Lin Yicheng went back and forth between home and company.

The company has recruited several people, including finance, clerk, and front desk staff.

Together with Zhou Chenggong, his assistant and apprentice, Lao Gu, the field manager who can shoot behind-the-scenes footage and take notes, and Wang Liming who is about to join the company, the film is finally no longer alone.

Unfortunately, the person I want most, who is familiar with various TV stations, can negotiate, and can sell dramas, is nowhere to be found.

During this period, some people also came to the door on their own initiative.

Either submit a script or try to get investment.

Lin Yicheng looked at these projects, but didn't remember any of them.

Naturally, I declined to mention it.

He is still short of an assistant to help Lin Yicheng deal with some personal matters, but this position is too important and requires someone who can be trusted.

I also asked my godfather to introduce me to a driver and bodyguard, saying that he would arrange for someone to come when the military retirement season comes.

This is not Lin Yicheng showing off, but an indispensable need after becoming famous.

Especially Lin Yicheng is very careful about his life.

Of course, we must guard against any possible accidents.

……

At the end of the month, "Crazy Stone" successfully passed the review and obtained a filming permit.

Zhou Chenggong was still the one who offered to sponsor the Marathon, but this time he refused to agree to the 10 points offer.

Now Lin Yicheng is already a well-known director. The last sponsors have made a lot of money and are eagerly waiting for Lin Yicheng’s new work and looking forward to continued cooperation.

In this case, the negotiation is naturally not difficult, but getting another 10 points would be a big deal.

So after the two of them discussed it, they decided on a 3% commission.

Zhou Chenggong thought it was rich enough and he was very content.

Lin Yicheng was also very satisfied with him.

He knows when to advance and retreat, and is not greedy. Even though Zhou Chenggong is slightly lacking in ability, he is willing to work with him and will never treat him unfairly in the future.

This time, I asked two mentors to introduce me to the behind-the-scenes work. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little expensive, the key is to do a good job.

Moreover, Lin Yicheng thought that if he got used to it, they could cooperate for a long time and form his own fixed team.

A mature and well-coordinated team is crucial for a director and can greatly improve efficiency and quality.

The editor is still Jijie, and this time he will follow the crew throughout the whole process, which will be of great help in editing.

Photography is by Wang Liming.

The assistant photographer was Ren Xingyu, with whom Lin Yicheng had worked last time. Lin Yicheng had a good impression of him and thought he had potential, so he regarded him as a reserve member of the team.

By the beginning of February in the lunar calendar, the behind-the-scenes members were basically in place and the contract had been signed.

Zhou Chenggong took Lao Gu, props and others to the mountain city, and began to select locations and carry out preliminary preparations according to Lin Yicheng's requirements.

The sponsors have also been confirmed, the major ones are Nokia, BMW and Fanta.

A total of 160 million.

Just for the line "Brand, Baleno!" Baleno is also willing to sponsor 20.

Nikon camera 20.

Jialing motorcycle costs 20 yuan.

Including the scattered beer, roast duck and other things that will appear in the camera, the total cost is 50.

That is to say, before filming even started, the company had already earned 270 million.

Speaking of which, Lin Yicheng also benefited from the times. In today's film and television circles, many companies do not pay enough attention to product placement.

This leads to a problem: the standard price in the market, and neither the producers nor the sponsors are quite sure what the exact price should be.

How much you can get depends on negotiation.

Therefore, thanks to the excellent sales performance of the products in "Hello, Old Times", the crew of "Crazy Stone" received a sponsorship fee that was considered sky-high in that era.

……

Qingying Studio, director's office.

"Okay, we have no problem here. Do you want me to go with you to the China Film Academy?" Xie Xiaojing asked. "No, you go ahead and do your thing. Teacher Wang has already informed them in advance." Lin Yicheng said.

"Okay then. I'll ask them to prepare the funds and have them in place within a week."

……

China Film Group.

Lin Yicheng met the famous Mr. Han San.

"Xiao Lin, right? I've heard of your name for a long time. You are indeed a promising young man. I watched your TV series. It was really good."

Mr. Han Sanye is very enthusiastic.

At present, the directors in China who can make and sell films are still the three big directors. There is no one after that who can show anything outstanding, and there is a lack of successors.

Mr. Han San saw it and was worried.

It just so happened that Wang Hongwei called and said that Lin Yicheng had a good script and needed investment from China Film Group, so Han Sanye took it to heart.

I have been waiting for Lin Yicheng's arrival, and finally he arrived today.

"Mr. Han, you are too polite. I am just a newcomer and I still need your guidance and support." Lin Yicheng was also very polite.

Why should we involve China Film Group?

Because China Film Group not only invests in film production itself, it also controls the distribution, theater chains, and import rights of films.

A veritable behemoth.

Lin Yicheng has made a name for himself in the field of television dramas, but he is a complete newcomer in the film industry.

If we don’t rely on the power of China Film, the movie can be released in a small range.

If he wants to expand the scale of screening, it involves distribution and scheduling, which is a lot of difficulties for him and Galaxy Film and Television Company now.

However, if you offend China Film Corporation and they suppress your film schedule, that's still considered good enough. But if they directly release a Hollywood blockbuster at the same time as yours to squeeze you out, that would be the real ecstasy.

……

"Did you bring the notebook?" asked Mr. Han San.

Although he had expectations for Lin Yicheng, Mr. Han San was also a cautious person and had to take a look at the goods first.

After all, TV series and movies are two different things. Being able to make a good TV series does not necessarily mean you can make a good movie.

"Please take a look." Lin Yicheng took out three copies of the information.

One is the shooting plan, including the shooting and production cycle, scheduled release time, film selling points, etc.

The remaining two are the script and the storyboard manuscript.

Uncle Han San read it carefully and had an idea in his mind.

The budget is 600 million, which is a low cost. With the popular star Lin Yicheng in the cast, the prospects are promising and there should be no problem in making a profit.

This deal can be done.

“How much CFIUS investment do you need?”

Since there is a certain prospect, we need to calculate the return. If we invest too much, the corresponding risk is high, and if we invest too little, there is no need, and China Film will not make much money.

"20%."

Lin Yicheng gave a number.

He had considered this number. It was definitely a profitable project and the biggest piece of the pie could not be shared out.

But if we want China Film to take it seriously, the share cannot be too small.

"50% or so. China Film Group can still come up with 300 million."

Han Sanping wanted to eat half of it directly and wanted to have the right to speak.

"I will invest 60% and Qingying Studio will invest 20%. However, the subsequent distribution will be handed over to China Film Group. Please also support the publicity."

Lin Yicheng replied in a neutral tone, "Are you kidding me? If I give half to China Film, won't I become an employee?"

Yes, your China Film Group is awesome, but Qingying Studio is no pushover either. If you really piss me off, the worst that can happen is that I’ll abandon your China Film Group and give 40% to Qingying Studio.

Even if you, China Film Studio, want to use some tricks, you have to take into account the ideas of Qingying Studio.

Master Han frowned and was silent for a while.

Never mind. It doesn’t matter if I invest less this time. Let’s cooperate first and there’s a long way to go in the future.

"Okay, 20%. I'll provide a producer. If you need any more people, you can hire them from China Film Group."

Since people have invested money, it is only natural that sand will be added into the mix.

"Thank you, Mr. Han. I'm in need of experienced people."

What I mean is that you can add sand, but don't let in those people who just want to eat and mess around.

Mr. Han San looked at Lin Yicheng deeply. This young man cannot be treated as an ordinary young man.

(End of this chapter)