bookrandom Chapter 68: Even after Wang 8 turned over, he was still just a Wang 8 lying on his back with all fou
Chapter 68: Even after Wang 8 turned over, he was still just a Wang 8 lying on his back with all fou
Li Xi tilted his head and called out to President Wan, "President Wan, now it's time for us to talk about the film and television adaptation."
Mr. Wan hesitated. "Shall we talk?"
His eyes flickered slightly as he recalled what Dixie had mentioned to him a few days ago, and he couldn't help but smile wryly, "Yun Ge, do you really want to invest in the filming yourself?"
"I'm not trying to discourage you, but you have to admit that it would be very difficult for you and me to produce 'Seven Days of Nightmare' on our own. If we collaborate, the only difference is the copyright fee."
"But hiring actors, renting locations, hiring filming crews, post-production, promotion..."
Mr. Wan gave a long list of examples, but in summary, he said, "We don't have that much capital or connections."
"The Seven Days of Nightmare is a good story, but it's a waste that it's been ruined by us."
Who doesn't have ambition?
Of course, Mr. Wan also wants to make a fortune quietly by producing his own dramas, but he needs to have the ability to do so first.
"Take Zhaixing for example..." President Wan felt that mentioning Zhaixing Entertainment again was too unlucky, so he quickly changed his words and said, "I looked at the conditions offered by other film and television companies. Putting aside everything else, the cast they offered is something we can't afford."
"These days, even a random male extra will ask for an exorbitant price."
"Besides, these days, the big stars in the entertainment industry might not even be interested in our script. And even if we can afford to hire the smaller stars, we might not be able to make them famous."
"To be honest, Xie Jiaoyue is definitely the best actress we could get for this script."
President Wan had truly opened up to Li Xi.
After listening attentively, Li Xi did not refute, "President Wan is right."
Mr. Wan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Li Xi was going to give up. But Li Xi said, "To be honest, I want to start an entertainment company, sign a few promising talents, and promote my own actors with my own works."
General Manager Wan: "..."
Seeing that Li Xi was so tactless, President Wan's attitude also turned cold.
"Yun Ge, you're still too young. Young people always have to hit a wall before they're willing to turn back."
Li Xi remained silent.
Seeing that Li Xi was determined to film it herself, President Wan lost interest in continuing the conversation with her.
He took out a cigarette, but didn't light it; he just held it in his hand.
Mr. Wan said, "After all, you created 'Seven Days of Nightmare.' Since you insist on not selling the copyright to other film and television companies and want to film it yourself, you should do so."
"Thanks to your collaboration, our company, Guanman, has built up its reputation. In the past two years, we have also discovered many promising comic artists and created a number of excellent comic works."
After making some polite remarks, Mr. Wan directly stated his answer: "It's impossible for me to invest in and film this script with you. You have to understand, I'm a businessman, and I don't do business that will result in a complete loss."
"You are the original author, and I appreciate your efforts and respect your decision. I can promise you that I will not sell the copyright to other companies."
“Like this.” President Wan held up one finger to Li Xi.
"Give me this amount, and I'll sell the copyright to you."
One finger represents ten million.
Seeing this, Dixie couldn't help but frown, feeling that President Wan was bullying him too much.
Several film and television companies had previously wanted to purchase the film and television rights to "Seven Days of Nightmare," but Zhaixing Entertainment, which offered the highest copyright fee, only paid 30 million.
The price of 30 million is before tax.
The comic book "Seven Days of Nightmare" was first published four years ago, when Li Xi signed a full-page contract with the comic book viewing website.
In other words, all subsequent development of her works was authorized by the website, and as the creator, she actually had no right to decide on copyright matters.
Later, Li Xi became the only author with a Gold Star V5 level on the comics viewing website, and she renewed her Gold Star contract with the website.
According to the contract, the copyright fees for all of Li Xi's works should be split 30/70 with the website.
In other words, even if Zhaixing Entertainment is willing to spend 30 million to buy the film and television rights to "Seven Days of Nightmare", the company will only receive 9 million before tax.
But Mr. Wan immediately asked Li Xi for ten million.
This is bullying.
Dixi's gaze towards Li Xi became tender.
Li Xi is only 22 years old. He looks like a young man who has just graduated and stepped out of the ivory tower.
Faced with Mr. Wan's blatant harassment, she had no choice but to swallow her anger.
The thought had barely crossed Dixi's mind when she heard Li Xi say, "Wan Dabao! Do you think I'm easy to bully because I have 'big traitor' written all over my forehead?"
Mr. Wan's eyes widened when he was addressed by his full name.
He stared at Li Xi in surprise, his voice hesitant: "What...what did you call me?"
Dipsy also showed a frightened look in her eyes.
Li Xi gave a sarcastic smile and looked at President Wan with disdain. She said, "You're trying to swindle me out of a million right off the bat. Do you know how thick a million-dollar stack would be in front of you?"
"You've really turned your life around and become a boss overnight, but you've forgotten how pathetic you were when you first started your business, trying to borrow money everywhere and getting rejected!"
"Don't forget, two years ago, when your son killed a family of five while driving drunk, and the court ordered you to pay the other party three million in compensation, you used all your cash to invest. In the end, I had to spend money to help you through the crisis."
"I saved you from dire straits, but you want to push me into purgatory."
Li Xi stood up, walked across the coffee table to leave, and said as she left, "I'd rather spend a million to hire a lawyer to sue you than let you get away with this!"
After Li Xi finished cursing, he arrogantly left, leaving Wan Dabao with a chubby face that turned a deep liver color from anger.
Wan Dabao crushed the cigarette in his hand and said coldly to Dixi, "You heard it all, didn't you? How awful her words were!"
"This girl looks delicate, but when she starts cursing, she's just like a shrew!"
"What is she so arrogant about! What right does she have to be so arrogant!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Wan Dabao's eyes. He said, "I think Mr. Qin is right. She's so arrogant, she should be taught a lesson."
Upon hearing this, Dixi quickly picked up a water glass and handed it to Wan Dabao: "Mr. Wan, please have some water first. I think Yun Ge is still too young. She hasn't learned her lesson and doesn't know what's important."
"You're the big boss, don't stoop to her level."
"She's never suffered a loss, so it's my turn to suffer?" Wan Dabao sneered. "She's just a lousy cartoonist! If her work is tainted, she's nothing!"
Realizing that Wan Dabao was really going to mess with Li Xi, Dixi was extremely anxious.
She started as a junior editor, but was promoted to editor-in-chief of Guanman because she was lucky enough to sign Li Xi, a cash cow.
Dixi was truly grateful to Li Xi.
Wan Dabao was capable of betraying Li Xi, something Dixi certainly couldn't do.
She couldn't help but adopt a serious attitude, reminding Wan Dabao: "Mr. Wan, I respect you as my superior, and we've developed a bond after working together for several years. I'm unwilling to resign unless absolutely necessary."
"But if you really want to smear 'Seven Days of Nightmare' and slander a respectable original author, then I'm sorry I can't collude with you!"
Dixi took off her name tag from her neck and said, "Wan Dabao, Yun Ge is right. Now that you're a boss, you've forgotten the hard times you had as a turtle."
"Even if a turtle turns over, it's still just a rotten turtle lying on its back!" In other words, a leopard can't change its spots.
"He really thinks he's some big shot."