Chapter 32: A Name on the Forbes List

After getting to know Hou Hongliang, the two agreed to stay in touch. Li Chen didn't say anything else.

It was their first meeting today, so Li Chen wouldn't discuss specifics with him. He would wait until the end of the year when everything was settled.

The director of Ningxia Film Studio also personally sought him out.

Wanting to be a good host, Li Chen politely declined, stating that he would return to Beijing after the film festival.

The other party then subtly asked if he would consider investing in his next film.

Li Chen truthfully said that the shares had already been allocated.

The other party still greeted him with a smile.

He said it was fine if there were no shares this time, and asked Li Chen to definitely consider Ningxia Film Studio next time there was an opportunity.

They didn't dare to ask for too much; as long as they had some, it would be enough.

After all, Ningxia Film Studio didn't have much money, otherwise, their Beijing office wouldn't be squeezed into Pang Hong's relative's house.

The awards ceremony began, starting with the Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony.

cell phone received four nominations, and lost on journey received two.

There was a strict requirement for Hundred Flowers selection: the box office had to exceed 5 million yuan.

Ultimately, lost on journey lost to cell phone by a narrow margin in the vote count.

Best Actor Xu Zheng lost to Ge You.

Best Actress went to Fan Xiaopang.

cell phone won Best Feature Film, achieving a great victory.

Following its win of the Market Expansion Award at the Huabiao Awards, cell phone continued to flourish at the Hundred Flowers.

When the results were announced, the camera deliberately focused on Li Chen and Xu Zheng.

Li Chen's expression was impeccable, showing no trace of disappointment or unwillingness, which greatly disappointed some people.

Xu Zheng, on the other hand, looked a bit unnatural.

On the awards stage, Grandma Liu personally presented the award to Ge You.

She even performed the classic head-patting gesture. Li Chen sat below the stage, getting goosebumps all over.

When it was time for the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony, cell phone and lost on journey, which had bloomed at the Hundred Flowers, didn't even receive nominations.

The nominated works were probably only seen by the Golden Rooster judges.

Li Chen hadn't heard of most of them, let alone seen them, and he believed many viewers felt the same.

Fortunately, this year's Golden Rooster finally didn't have a double-egg result again.

Hou Hongliang's On the Way to School won this year's Golden Rooster Awards for Best Children's Film and Best Screenplay.

It was almost eleven when he returned to the hotel that night. Fan Xiaopang sent a message: "Director Li, your words are golden. Would you honor me with a simple meal?"

Li Chen replied: "Next time, I'm returning to Beijing tomorrow morning."

"Okay, see you in Beijing, Director Li."

Miss Liu also sent a warm comforting message: "It's alright, it's alright, next time."

Li Chen shook his head and chuckled, instantly replying: "It was nothing to begin with, and I won't be coming next time."

Miss Liu thought he was speaking out of anger and immediately called him.

It wasn't until Li Chen explained for a long time that she truly believed he wasn't speaking out of anger.

"Alright, it seems I underestimated Director Li's vision."

The next day, the internet and media were flooded with criticism of this year's film festival.

"To the China Film Golden Rooster Awards: It is shameful to distance oneself from the public!"

"Experts criticize, audiences praise; Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers go against each other!"

"The 'Hundred Flowers' gave the 'Golden Rooster' a resounding slap in the face."

"Harmony is the only criterion for judging films."

Zhang Dapao directly blasted the Golden Rooster Awards as abnormal.

Wen Jun, the chairman of the Hong Kong Golden Horse Awards, also piled on, criticizing the Golden Rooster: "The Golden Rooster is a down-and-out chicken."

Industry insiders also came out one after another to curse the Golden Rooster judges.

But the Golden Rooster judges still went their own way.

At the press conference, the Golden Rooster Awards judges criticized cell phone as a film of low taste.

lost on journey was merely a hodgepodge.

They also advised Director Xiao Gang Pao to pay attention to the taste of his future films.

If Xiao Gang Pao could endure that, he wouldn't be called Xiao Gang Pao.

He simply responded with, "I believe in the audience's opinion," which was quite cool.

Back in Beijing, Li Chen called a headhunting company.

He began preparing for the company's expansion at the end of the year.

All departments needed to be expanded; the company's current few small fry simply couldn't support it.

Since it was to develop in all aspects, legal, financial, publicity, and human resources were all indispensable.

Especially legal and financial.

Li Chen's requirements for the headhunting company were simple: salary was not an issue, but it had to be worth the money.

As for building a professional team in the film and television industry, Li Chen decided to ask Han Sanping for help.

Han Sanping was very supportive when he heard that he planned to expand the company at the end of the year.

He introduced him to a young man in his thirties named Chang Hong, and told Li Chen to call him Brother Chang.

Han Sanping only said he was a junior, and Li Chen guessed he was probably a descendant or connection of the former Beijing Film Academy.

The two met at Li Chen's company, and it was clear that the other party was quite reluctant.

He looked down on Li Chen's small workshop and student status, only coming out of respect for Han Sanping.

The two were like a blind date arranged by their parents, mutually disgusted.

The other party agreed that as long as the funds were in place, the team would be easy to assemble.

However, the money for purchasing equipment was not a small sum.

Li Chen asked him to recruit the team first and not to worry about the funds needed for equipment procurement.

The other party smiled lightly, got up, and walked away elegantly.

Li Chen's plan for himself, just as he told Hou Hongliang, was that a producer was more suitable for him.

He envisioned an organizational structure where he, as the producer, would manage multiple new directors.

He had so many scripts saved up; if he were to film them all himself, he would die of exhaustion and still only make a few.

Li Chen also had a plan for his company's future industrial layout, but he lacked a breakthrough point.

Back at school, Li Chen went to check on the post-production of shoplifters.

The progress was very fast, and English subtitles had already been edited in.

To go to Cannes, foreign films must have French or English subtitles.

At this rate, editing is expected to be completed by the end of October.

During the National Day, Lu Chuan's cocosilili was released, receiving good reviews but terrible box office results.

Big Brother Long's new police story dominated the box office, but his boast of over 100 million at the Premiere was just for show.

October 15th.

The filing announcement for painted skin was released.

The industry and the internet instantly exploded.

"painted skin? A ghost movie? Can this kind of subject matter even pass censorship now?"

"Why not? Just put a sheep's head on a dog's body, change it to an oriental fantasy coat, and it's fine."

"Whether it can pass censorship depends on who produces it. Can't the person upstairs see that China Film Group Corporation is among the producers?"

"What's wrong with a ghost movie? Liaozhai has been made into a TV series, and you didn't jump. Now it's adapted into a movie, and you're all playing dead?"

Li Chen's company phones and cell phones were instantly under high load.

The buzz Lu Chuan painstakingly created for cocosilili was mercilessly suppressed.

Li Chen guessed that the director must have been cursing him in his heart.

He hadn't even attended the Premiere of cocosilili.

Without him, perhaps among the sixth-generation directors, Lu Chuan might not have been the most outstanding, but he would have been one of the most famous.

But ever since he burst onto the scene, the constellation of stars has been shattered by him.

His works came one after another, and his box office was second only to Zhang Yimou.

Wang Changtian was the first to call, saying.

"Brother, you're not being fair. The announcement is out, and I just found out. Is Enlight Media not involved again this time?"

Li Chen laughed: "If you say that, you're wronging me."

"I wasn't sure about the subject matter this time, so I wanted to wait until it passed censorship before telling you."

"This time I'm giving you 20% of the shares. China Film Group Corporation and I each have 40%. The investment is 100 million. Is that okay with you, brother?"

Wang Changtian laughed heartily: "No problem, brother, you're very generous. Let Enlight Media handle the promotion and distribution as well. I'll definitely make you satisfied."

"The promotion and distribution will be handled by Enlight Media and China Film Group Corporation together. I'll have someone send you the contract tomorrow."

Li Chen also had the company announce the open casting call for some roles in painted skin.

As for the main actors, Li Chen still planned to use invitation auditions.

An oriental fantasy martial arts epic with an investment of 100 million yuan.

Male Lead 2 requirements: Around thirty years old, with a martial arts background, and at least one work.

Female Lead 2 requirements: Around thirty years old, good looks, and at least one work.

Interested parties can submit their resumes to the company email by October 20th.

Yang Siwei had been with Li Bingbing's sisters for some time.

One was humbly seeking guidance, the other was eager to make friends, and they got along very well.

Li Xue, Li Bingbing's agent, greatly admired Yang Siwei's personality: daring, proactive, and quick-witted.

"Siwei, has the female lead for painted skin been decided?" Li Xue and Yang Siwei chatted as they walked.

Yang Siwei didn't hide anything from her, nodding: "Yes, Zhou Xun from Rongxinda. Director Li personally decided."

"Sister Xue, Sister Bingbing can audition for the role of Pei Rong, the second female lead, who is also a main character."

Li Xue smiled: "Okay, then I'll submit the resume."

Yang Siwei understood and said with a smile: "En, I'll ask Director Li later. Maybe an audition won't even be necessary, after all, Sister Bingbing's strength is obvious to all."

Li Xue admired the other party even more, understanding the subtle meaning from the hint.

From mid-October, Li Chen basically kept an eye on the international crude oil dynamics.

Zhang Qin would also report the latest price fluctuations to him daily.

By October 25th, the price finally rose to 55 US dollars per barrel.

Li Chen decisively called Zhang Qin, who immediately answered.

"Director Li, the position has been closed."

It was evident that Zhang Qin's voice was trembling slightly.

"Good!" Li Chen was ecstatic.

"First, congratulations, Director Li, you'll be on the Forbes list." Zhang Qin let out a breath.

He admired Li Chen immensely.

Although he didn't know if international crude oil prices would rise higher later.

But with this kind of foresight, almost like prophecy, and the decisiveness to seize the opportunity and exit when the time was right.

Zhang Qin felt that it was not something an ordinary person could possess.

Li Chen felt his whole body relax, feeling light and airy.

"What Forbes? I don't want to be on that list."

Most of the profits from the futures market still had to be diversified into the stock market, especially Tencent.

He didn't care how Zhang Qin traded, as long as he didn't push the stock price too high.

Even a longer cycle was acceptable, as he would inevitably deal with Tencent in the future.

This kind of transaction would definitely attract Tencent's attention, but he didn't care.

With money, he could start making moves.

Li Chen called Hou Hongliang, inviting him to Beijing, only saying there was something to discuss.

Hou Hongliang came very quickly, flying in the next day.

As soon as they met, he chuckled: "Director Li, what's the rush?"

Hou Hongliang was also an impatient person.

He was eager to know what could make Director Li, whom he had taken an immediate liking to, so solemnly ask him to come to Beijing.

Couldn't it be discussed over the phone?