Becoming Rich with Daily Scavenging APP-Chapter 548: Investing in Three Films in a Row
Shen Ao was born in ’86, and as an 80s-born individual, he’s considered quite young among directors in the film industry.
After shaking hands with him, Chen Yiyang began talking about the project he was currently preparing.
"I’ve read the film’s script, and it’s quite good. You can film according to the script, but after filming, I estimate a lot of content will need to be cut or modified."
"Yes, we understand that," Shen Ao said. "It’s okay if some details are cut as long as the film passes the review."
The information about a surprise was that Shen Ao was the one being mentioned.
So, after discussing the project, Chen Yiyang chatted with him more, asking about his upcoming filming plans.
"I already have an idea for my next project, but both the filming and review process will be quite challenging."
"Tell me about it."
"I plan to make a film about the section of history in Jinling City during the Anti-Japanese War," Shen Ao shared his idea.
"That’s a tough one to film," Chen Yiyang was silent for a moment.
That part of history has been filmed many times.
Lao Mouzi and some other directors have made several films about it.
However, none of them were well-received, and although some performed well at the box office and some poorly, none were profitable.
Especially Lao Mouzi’s film, which directly caused a fallout with his former partner. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
If even Lao Mouzi couldn’t do it well, can this young man succeed?
So, Chen Yiyang asked, "Several films on this subject have been made before, but none have captured widespread public attention. What do you think the problem is?"
"I believe the issue lies in perspective," Shen Ao said. "Wrong is wrong, and right is right. You can’t try to whitewash all wrongdoers just because there’s one good person among them.
If we are to film history, we should depict the history recognized by the public, not add our own ideas or artistic expressions.
That’s disrespectful to history; history shouldn’t be artistically processed."
Just from this conversation, Chen Yiyang immediately believed that Shen Ao could handle this subject well.
It’s a simple truth, but unfortunately, many people in the film industry don’t understand.
Some people’s perspectives are so skewed they can even be referred to as traitors.
Others have too many ideas, always trying to cater to international trends with anti-war and reflection themes.
Europe and America delve into anti-war and reflection cultures because after entering the Industrial Revolution, all their conflicts and massacres were of their own making.
Now that they can no longer control the world arbitrarily, they’re naturally afraid and worried about retaliation, hence their large-scale anti-war efforts.
But transferring this perspective to the victims of that time is completely unacceptable.
When making historical films, the depiction must align with the public’s understanding of history, not be filmed merely for the sake of hype.
Making an anti-war film in the context of European wars is indeed worth reflecting on, as neither side was entirely good.
However, it’s not appropriate to apply this to the Anti-Japanese War.
Similarly, making a game exploring Cthulhu and human nature can be done through late Tang or late Han history.
But if you name it after the late Ming dynasty without featuring key factions from that period, being criticized is well deserved.
"How about this, I’ll invest in your next film and the one after that,"
Chen Yiyang grew more impressed with Shen Ao the more they talked, so he said outright, "Let’s sign an investment contract. I’ll invest in your next three films, with an investment cap of one billion for each."
Chen Yiyang’s generosity left Shen Ao stunned.
An investment cap of one billion per film. Doesn’t that mean he can choose to film any subject he wants?
Even for a heavy industrial sci-fi film like "The Wandering Earth," a billion would suffice.
Shen Ao couldn’t understand why Chen Yiyang valued him, a young director, so highly.
But when a pie drops from the sky, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to refuse.
So he immediately agreed.
To avoid Chen Yiyang acting on impulse and having second thoughts later,
Shen Ao purposely stayed in Lin’an for a few days, waiting to sign the contract with Chen Yiyang’s company before leaving.
This was a small matter for Chen Yiyang.
However, once word got out, the entire entertainment circle was abuzz.
This unknown young director, Shen Ao, secured investments for three films from Chen Yiyang all at once.
Everyone in the circle was trying to find out who Shen Ao was.
You have to know, the directors Chen Yiyang previously invested in: Gong Fan, Yang Zhou, Rao Zhi.
Which of them hasn’t released blockbuster films grossing at least four or five billion?
Could Shen Ao be the next one?
Many people have started inquiring about Shen Ao’s project, planning to secure an acting role.
Quoting fifty million for other directors, but here, even a few million wouldn’t be impossible, as long as there’s enough screen time.
Even Gong Fan and Cheng Si called to inquire with Chen Yiyang about what abilities Shen Ao possesses to earn his favor.
The last director to receive direct investments for three films from a big shot was Jiang Wen.
Of course, even for Jiang Wen, only one of those three films actually turned a profit.
But at the moment, Chen Yiyang had no energy to worry about issues in the entertainment industry.
The snap-up battle was still ongoing, but there weren’t many areas causing him concern; it was primarily necessary to keep pouring in money.
At this point in the battle, one company must entirely exit the field for the other two to potentially recover their previous investments.
At this intense stage, no one wanted to give up.
In the field of new energy electric vehicles,
Yiyang Automobile was about to launch its second model, the Lingguang Second Generation.
The Lingguang Second Generation will be about twenty thousand more expensive than the first generation.
Mainly because, with increasing competition, low prices are no longer a magic weapon, so Yiyang Automobile’s second generation must incorporate some good technologies to maintain its competitiveness.
However, while the second generation costs twenty thousand more, the material costs are more than twenty-five thousand higher than the first generation.
The extra costs, Chen Yiyang plans to recover through the European market and by selling batteries to Beifu.
In the office, Chen Yiyang discussed automobile promotion matters with Liu Xiaoyue.
"Recently, what’s drawing attention in the automotive sector focuses on safety issues.
So, current car manufacturers are heavily promoting their safety features.
One of the mainstream promotional tactics is having their cars collide with trucks or other heavy vehicles to prove their car models’ safety."
"Let me look at other companies’ promotional methods."
Chen Yiyang took the materials handed over by Liu Xiaoyue, discovering several companies choosing to have their cars collide head-on with trucks or light commercial vehicles.
After the collision, they used the degree of wreckage on the cars and damage to dummies inside to prove their cars’ safety performance.
After reviewing, Chen Yiyang thought this method was indeed good.
