Chapter 1590
Darkness
"You mean, you've reached an agreement with Kering Group?"
Inside that same private room at the restaurant, as they ate mango pomelo sago, a group of Hong Kong business leaders looked up and stared intently at him.
When Zhang Yuan arrived today, he said with a smile that he brought both bad news and good news.
Let them choose which one to listen to first.
These people said, "Can we not hear bad news?"
Huang Baiming, in particular, was practically covering his ears.
I just finished dealing with Liang Ting, are you going to cause some trouble again?
"No, you have to listen," Zhang Yuan insisted.
We can only listen to what he says.
When they heard that they had fallen out with the old man from LVMH, the faces of these people were hard to keep up.
But it wasn't as difficult for Zeng Jia to hold back as it was back then.
We filmmakers may have trouble dealing with fashion moguls, but it's not like we can't survive.
But I was still unhappy.
I thought to myself, "When in a year can you ever be quiet? We're all getting old and can't handle any more stress."
They didn't say it aloud, but they were all cursing and swearing in their hearts, speaking these vulgar southern dialects.
But when they heard that he had brought in Kaiyun as a partner, their thoughts changed.
It's normal for young people to like to experiment.
See, this whole mess has turned out well.
"No cooperation was reached, but the two parties confirmed their intention to cooperate."
"The other party asked to invest in our company in exchange for full cooperation."
Zhang Yuan explained the situation clearly.
The group fell silent again.
"Cooperation is definitely more beneficial than harmful, don't we all agree?"
Zhang Yuan first set the tone.
The company is both allocating shares to artists and attracting investment, which will inevitably lead to a wave of equity dilution.
What's being diluted are the original positions.
"First, they will provide funds, and then they will offer prestige."
"As you all probably know, Kering is about to donate the bronze animal heads to the higher-ups, and a very grand ceremony will be held."
"In the future, Kering Group will definitely enjoy many preferential treatments in China, and there will be many organizations willing to cooperate with them."
"Our initiative is a strategic success."
“If everyone agrees, I would like to move the discussion to the next stage, which is how many shares to give to Kering Group.”
In his view, this is the key point.
He had his own sense of proportion, and he wanted to keep the total stake, including that of several directors, all the artists, and the shares given to Kering, at around 15%.
Any more words would affect my authority to speak.
His goal is that even if he releases some shares to the public after the IPO, he still needs to hold more than 35% of the shares.
In addition, we signed private buyback agreements with these directors and artists to gradually bring the price back to around 40%.
With the support of either China Film Group or Huaxia Film Distribution, one can basically gain absolute control.
This is the result of his calculations.
No matter how good the investment and cooperation is, if they give up too much and turn me into a wage earner, then what's the point?
After much discussion, guided by Zhang Yuan, they settled on a 5% valuation, valued at 2500 million euros.
According to available evidence, after "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" grossed over 1 billion yuan at the box office, the company's valuation has reached over 3 billion yuan.
As an outsider, you'll always have to pay a premium to buy.
In addition, Zhang Yuan has a good idea that "Lost in Thailand" hasn't been released yet, but its valuation will rise again after it is.
After the price was documented and reported to the other party, they shook their heads repeatedly.
They felt it was too expensive and too little.
I spent tens of millions of euros to buy the two capitals of the Beast Kingdom, and I'm going to give them to your country for free. Tens of millions is just a small amount of money.
They don't need that little bit.
They want 10% of the shares.
Zhang Yuan disagreed, stating that the limit was 5%.
"Mr. Henry, please believe that these shares will bring you a rich return."
"Furthermore, the company's valuation is growing rapidly."
“After the Chinese New Year, we may no longer accept this financing plan.”
"I sincerely hope to cooperate with you."
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; you'll regret it then.
The other party, as always, was not as assertive as old Bernard, only saying that he would consider and study it.
The implication is that we think your mosquito legs are too small, and we're afraid we won't be able to savor the flavor.
Forced relationships are never sweet, and Zhang Yuan was somewhat frustrated about this, but he couldn't show it to others.
He also had to go and promote "Lost in Thailand".
The company has scheduled a massive number of roadshows for this film, including more than twenty outdoor events and more than ten cinema events.
This does not include press conferences.
On average, I have to run more than two races a day.
He mainly participated as a guest at events in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
At the first press conference in Beijing, they even invited the Siamese girl to help out.
Fan Bingbing made a cameo appearance at the end of the film, and he also brought her to the event.
"I hope everyone will support 'Lost in Thailand' and also my 'One Night Surprise'."
Fan Bingbing generously promoted herself.
She reached out her hand to him after stepping down from the stage.
"Announcement fee".
"Are we even discussing this?"
Fan Xiaopang continued speaking with his white and tender palms outstretched.
"Ha, they don't even pay me for a cameo in your movie."
"I asked you to act in my play, but you wouldn't come."
"You're not getting paid for doing gigs, what are you planning to do?"
"You know what, these hands are really white." Zhang Yuan changed the subject and touched her hand.
"Get out!" She slapped him away.
“Oh, your play, right…” Zhang Yuan understood that she was referring to “One Night Surprise”.
Am I qualified to act in this?
Their values are all warped.
The story of a woman who gets pregnant unexpectedly after throwing a party and then searches for the person who seduced her.
This thing is okay now, but it will be easily attacked by feminists 10 years from now.
He thought to himself, "I already refused, why are you bringing it up again?"
"Besides, you didn't make a cameo appearance in 'Lost in Thailand' because of Xu Zheng."
They acted together in "Love Transfer" back then, and Zhang Yuan was also in it.
"Fine, I'm worthless to you anyway."
"It's worth it, absolutely worth it."
"Don't be like that. I'm not as valuable as you, Zhang, the big star. After all, you've climbed the social ladder by marrying into the gambling king's family."
Oh... Zhang Yuan finally understood.
I said, "Why is Fan Bingbing looking at me like that today?"
So it turns out they saw the rumors about me and He Chaolian.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"You've already been photographed, and you still won't admit it? I should congratulate you," Fan Bingbing said sourly.
"It's not that I don't acknowledge it, and it's true that I was photographed, but the other person and I are just friends, and nothing happened."
"They didn't like you?"
“It’s because I didn’t like her,” Zhang Yuan replied quite seriously.
"You're just bragging," Fan Bingbing said, unconvinced.
They're so rich, why don't you want them?
When it comes to making money, I've never seen anyone your age who's better than you.
"A true man is born between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long?"
Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Not only did the third wife come to me, but someone from the fourth wife also came to visit me, but I haven’t had a chance to go yet.”
"Oh..." Upon hearing this, Fan Bingbing rolled her eyes.
"You mean, they've taken a liking to you?" "But they might not be interested in me as a person."
"Do you think I'd be stupid enough to jump into a pit?" Zhang Yuan asked, trying to sound wise.
"You think you can win me over by sending a few girls?"
How could I possibly be won over by a teenage girl... except for Jiang Yilang.
I'm mainly afraid of her dad!
Fan Bingbing carefully examined him again.
Hmm... Nods slightly.
I'm used to it; I always feel like he's not serious.
Standing too close can sometimes make it harder to see clearly.
Looking at it from a different perspective now, he has indeed developed very quickly and has the potential to be noticed by others.
He is a multi-millionaire at a young age, without a complicated background or an absurdly privileged family history.
It's normal for people to want to contact him.
"I think it would be good if you could marry into the family and get married into their family," Fan Bingbing said casually, glancing aside.
"Only a life that you can control is a free life."
"It's not my style to hand over the steering wheel of my life to someone else."
"Of course, if the other party is willing to transfer all their assets to my name, then I can consider it."
"Dream on." Fan Bingbing felt much better after hearing his reply.
"So, will you pay the appearance fee or not?"
"Can I repay you with my body?"
"That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!"
As the two were chatting, the Siamese girl came over and greeted Fan Bingbing respectfully.
"She's quite popular lately."
"Nonsense, I handled it. I've already had my men sign her."
Fan Bingbing understood perfectly; I knew you wouldn't do anything without a reason.
"It's pretty, I even want to touch it a few times."
“I’ve already said she’s not a transvestite, and she doesn’t have a penis,” Zhang Yuan clarified.
Fan Bingbing: ...
"Don't give me that. By the way, come to my place tonight, I'll open some champagne for you."
"Something good has happened?"
Zhang Yuan quickly considered in his mind, "Is it not her birthday?"
There are too many people, so he easily forgets them and gets confused.
"The best thing is champagne," Fan Bingbing said, her eyes gleaming.
Seeing his reaction, Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief; it probably wasn't his birthday.
"Moët & Chandon has chosen me as their spokesperson, making me the first Asian spokesperson in history," Fan Bingbing said proudly.
With his neck tilted back and a smile on his face, he looked like a primary school student who had just received a perfect score on a test and was waiting for his parents to praise him.
"Congratulations, they made the right choice in choosing you. Among all the female stars in mainland China, only you have the qualifications and influence to win Moët & Chandon's favor."
"You're really good with words." Fan Bingbing showed a satisfied expression.
That's the truth; her fashion influence surpasses that of all other female stars.
Even the social impact is significant, since tax evasion can be a major scandal.
Therefore, she is the Liu Xiaoqing of the new era, and even when eating shit, she has to eat the best bite.
In comparison, she is almost equivalent to Marilyn Monroe in North America in China.
Sissi, on the other hand, resembles Audrey Hepburn more.
This is also why Fan Bingbing was able to succeed in the cosmetics industry—she has such a huge reputation.
"Then you'll have to stay a little further away from me." Zhang Yuan frowned after praising him.
"Oh ho, what do you mean? Afraid that the Siamese girl will be unhappy if she sees you like this?" Fan Bingbing immediately became sour again.
"You're usually so generous, don't always act like this."
He shook his head helplessly.
Tell the other party that you just had a falling out with LVMH, and that Moët & Chandon is the M in LVMH.
"You're really brave."
Even after all this, Fan Bingbing still praised him.
That's how women are; as long as they think you're good, they'll do anything for you.
“I’ve made that Siamese girl a hot topic now. After the New Year, you should arrange for her to be a spokesperson for cosmetics.”
"Let's also see if we can expand into the Southeast Asian market."
"Tell me the truth first, have you ever tried to 'develop' her?" Fan Bingbing pointed at the Siamese girl's back.
"I swear to the light, I absolutely didn't..."
Snapped!
A loud bang, and the light bulb above my head exploded.
Fan Bingbing: Hehe.
Two days later, "Lost in Thailand" was officially released before the Lunar New Year, spanning the Spring Festival period.
Over the past two days, Zhang Yuan spent time at the Ice and Snow World short track speed skating venue, finally managing to appease the angry Fan Bingbing.
Meanwhile, "Lost in Thailand" will take over the time slot from the special effects blockbuster "Life of Pi".
This film is considered one of Ang Lee's best works in terms of combining storytelling and visual effects.
It grossed over 5 million yuan at the domestic box office and over 6 million US dollars worldwide!
Clearly, this content is more popular in the West.
After all, Ang Lee made these films for Western audiences.
The religious connotations of India are obvious.
After the film's release, it sparked numerous discussions on the internet worldwide.
Especially the metaphors about the animals, and whether the male protagonist lied, and which version of the story is the truth.
The most widely circulated version is the "cannibalism" version.
This is not just hearsay or rumors.
The second male lead in the film, the tiger, is named "Richard Parker," and he is widely recognized as the embodiment of the protagonist's inner demons, representing his primal and wild side.
In 1884, the British yacht Mignonette sank in a storm in the South Atlantic. The captain, first mate, crew member and trainee crew member, a total of four people, boarded the lifeboat.
Ultimately, the trainee crew members who drank seawater because they couldn't stand the hunger and lack of water were the first to fall seriously ill.
The captain and first mate killed the trainee crew member, and the remaining three ate his body, thus surviving for another four days before being rescued.
After reaching the shore, the three were charged with murder.
After a lengthy legal battle, the individuals involved were sentenced to prison.
This case also established the principle in Western law that "avoidance in an emergency cannot be used as a reason for exemption from liability for murder."
You can't kill someone just because you want to live; murder is murder.
The trainee crew member who was killed and then devoured was named Richard Parker, the same name as the tiger in the movie.
It could not possibly be a coincidence; it was deliberately arranged by Ang Lee and the screenwriter.
Therefore, the underlying theme of "Life of Pi" is actually that after the protagonist sees the captain kill and eat the sailors, his mother fights him to the death and sacrifices herself.
The male protagonist, driven by hunger, eventually kills and eats his girlfriend, who is depicted as a rat in the film.
The artistic value of this play is quite high, as high as three or four stories.
Both films depict disaster, hunger, and humanity, but Ang Lee's work is clearly superior to Feng Xiaogang's "1942".
But none of that matters; what the story is about depends on the analysis.
Just like in "Let the Bullets Fly," Jiang Wen certainly stuffed a bunch of metaphors into the film, but the audience analyzed even more.
Once a work is published, the right to interpret it shifts from the author to the audience.
Everyone will have different experiences based on their own experiences and state of mind.
That's how it is with the Four Great Classical Novels; different people, at different ages, and with different educational backgrounds will see different things when they read them.
In other words, whoever holds the right of interpretation actually holds the rights to the work.
Therefore, the darkest interpretations quickly flooded the Chinese internet, dominating various forums and websites.
Many influential film critics on Weibo are sharing this.
This story can be interpreted as a tale of a cannibal reforming, or perhaps not reforming at all.
Try to associate yourself with Uncle Mads, who is very good at interpersonal relationships.
There have even been joint interpretations that analyze it together with "1942" and call it the "Dark Duo".
The beginning of the year was so dark... That's what the audience all said.
If it's not dark and doesn't make people feel anxious, how can "Lost in Thailand" appear joyful?
Under Zhang Yuan's deliberate manipulation, the reviews for both shows have been rapidly shifting towards a dark and somber tone.
Against this backdrop, the fast-paced, family-friendly road comedy "Lost in Thailand" entered the Spring Festival film market.
Your grandpa's here! (End of Chapter)