Chapter 36: Not a Friend, Then an Enemy

With some free time, Li Chen browsed major literary websites and Tianya.

He sought out potential literary works that had already begun, acquiring one after another.

Even if they weren't finished, he signed early to secure the copyrights.

He even stipulated in the contracts that Rongchen Film and Television would have priority purchasing rights for the future works of these authors.

In the eyes of outsiders, he might have seemed like a clueless spendthrift.

Yang Siwei had also questioned Li Chen's decisions, but he blindly trusted Li Chen's judgment.

He executed Li Chen's instructions with 100% fidelity.

An outside-the-circle piece of news caused no stir in the entertainment industry.

But Li Chen paid attention.

The boss of Sohu also confirmed the authenticity of the news.

Gu Yongkeng was leaving his job, the reason being that he wanted to start his own business.

Li Chen was intrigued and asked Yang Siwei to contact him for a meeting.

The two met at the agreed-upon location.

Gu Yongkeng marveled at the other's youth, unsure why he had been asked to meet.

Their conversation revolved around the internet, which Yang Siwei could also understand.

After all, the media industry and the internet were becoming increasingly intertwined.

It wasn't until she heard her boss state his intention that she understood.

Yang Siwei then realized that her boss was considering venturing into the internet sector.

Gu Yongkeng smiled and said, "Director Li, I understand your meaning."

"After I resign in March next year, I plan to accompany my wife to study in the United States."

"If there's an opportunity to meet again in the future."

Li Chen was unfazed by the other's self-importance.

He smiled and said, "Alright, but if Mr. Gu decides to start a business in the future, Rongchen Film and Television will definitely be your best choice."

Gu Yongkeng smiled, looking at the confident young man before him: "Alright."

In his heart, he didn't take the other's words seriously at all.

After they parted, Yang Siwei joked while driving, "Director Li, this Mr. Gu seems to look down on you a bit."

Li Chen just smiled, not bothering to respond to Yang Siwei.

It didn't matter if Gu Yongkeng looked down on him now.

But if the other party truly decided to create a video website in the future and didn't choose to cooperate with him.

Then, he was sorry, but it would be a matter of friend or foe.

He wouldn't mind playing the role of Alibaba for once.

After all, from a long-term perspective, a video website is an indispensable part of the future film and television industry chain.

With his assets and resources at that time, as well as the copyright advantages accumulated over many years of deep cultivation in the long-form video field!

It would definitely become his trump card.

Invitations for the Premieres of a world without thieves and Kung Fu arrived at the company.

It must be said that a world without thieves had put a lot of effort into its promotion this time.

In addition to a train breaking into nine dragons.

There was also this grand Premiere.

Just looking at the hype of the invitation was enough to be impressive.

a world without thieves - Love Achieves Future Charity Premiere.

'Love' 'Charity'

Oh my goodness! The prestige instantly shot up.

Li Chen felt that when painted skin had its Premiere, he could emulate this.

"You're saying Wang Jinghua is interested in joining me?" Li Chen was somewhat amused and annoyed.

Yang Siwei nodded and said, "From Hua Jie's words, she seems to have that intention."

"Otherwise, there'd be no need for her to sound me out about the company's strength and future development positioning."

Li Chen smiled and said, "If Wang Jinghua comes over, would you be content to play a supporting role?"

Yang Siwei smiled back, "I'll listen to Director Li. Hua Jie is currently stronger than me in terms of both experience and ability."

Li Chen said, "Alright, that's enough on this topic. You don't need to bother with Wang Jinghua."

"Our company doesn't need that many artists. I chose you not to be an apprentice."

"Tang Yan is just your first artist; this is a beginning, not an end! Do you understand?"

Yang Siwei nodded heavily: "Understood, Director Li."

In fact, she also wanted to see Director Li's attitude.

Only a fool would want to be second; who doesn't want to stand on their own?

Since university, Yang Siwei had always been the student council president of the art academy, with dozens of people under her.

Yang Dong called Li Chen, saying that the post-production for new world was completely finished.

Li Chen asked him to send the finished film to Beijing, as he couldn't leave.

The next day, Huo Wenxi personally delivered the finished film.

Li Chen looked at it, and it was quite good, even more captivating than what the Koreans had filmed.

Many actors in Hong Kong, although not formally trained, truly surpassed many students from the three major academies in mainland China in terms of acting skills.

Zhang Jiahui's portrayal of Li Zi Cheng perfectly captured the state of being besieged both internally and externally, on the verge of collapse.

Tony Leung Ka-fai's portrayal of Ding Qing perfectly blended the ruthlessness, decisiveness, and somewhat frenzied personality of a big brother.

Simon Yam's Chief Inspector Jiang was also very flavorful.

And Ray Lui's portrayal of Li Zhong Jiu was also incredibly domineering, truly worthy of playing a character like Crippled Ho.

As for the fight scenes between the triads, that was even more of a strength of Hong Kong films.

The entire film was passionate and thrilling.

Li Chen stood up and extended his hand: "Director Huo, no problem. I think we can invite foreign film distributors to watch the film now."

Huo Wenxi also extended her hand, shaking his and smiling, "Director Li and Yang Dong thought alike."

Li Chen also smiled and said, "Emperor Entertainment Group's distribution power is second to none; they're definitely more familiar with how to operate than I am."

"I won't interfere; I'll just wait for the profit sharing."

Huo Wenxi asked an extra question: "Director Li is so confident?"

Li Chen only replied, "Director Huo can have no confidence in me, but you must have confidence in your boss."

Regardless of how Yang Dong operated, Li Chen believed that this new world would definitely fetch a good price.

Especially in the Southeast Asian market, such as South Korea.

Xu Zheng's nightclub also completed post-production.

Looking at the slightly excited Xu Zheng before him, Li Chen could understand his mindset.

Although the film didn't have as many laughs as Crazy Stone.

Fortunately, the actors' comedic timing made up for the lack of jokes.

Whether it was Huang Bo playing the robber or Lei Jiayin playing Li Junwei, just their presence made people want to laugh.

In Li Chen's opinion, it was much better than the nightclub of his previous life.

Li Chen didn't waste any more words and asked Xu Zheng when he wanted to schedule the release.

"Director Li, do you have any good suggestions?" Xu Zheng humbly smiled, rubbing his shiny bald head.

Li Chen nodded: "If you ask me, let's put it in the Spring Festival Film Season. How about Chinese New Year's Day?"

"a world without thieves, Kung Fu, and new world are all in the New Year Film Season, so the Spring Festival Film Season has less competition."

"nightclub is also a comedy, and if you do enough promotion, you'll have all the right conditions: timing, location, and people."

Xu Zheng was also very decisive: "Alright, I'll listen to Director Li."

Li Chen smiled and said no more, instructing someone to send the finished film to the bureau for review.

Once the review passed, Xu Zheng would take a few lead actors to promote it on the ground.

On the other side, Hou Hongliang's progress was also quite smooth.

He brought in the Shandong gang's directing and screenwriting team, centered around vigorous directors like Kong Sheng, Li Xue, Zhang Kaizhou, and Zhang Jianxin.

Hou Hongliang didn't plan to save money for Li Chen, even promising to share some company shares with them in the future.

These fellow Shandong natives had traveled all over the country filming for years.

But truly popular works were few.

There was only one reason: insufficient funds.

Without money, they could only make do with mediocre scripts, at the mercy of the production companies.

Without good scripts, they couldn't produce popular film and television works.

And without popular film and television works, they couldn't attract investment.

This had clearly become a vicious cycle.

Now that Hou Hongliang had brought in capital, the few of them could finally create freely.

What was even more rare was that Rongchen Film and Television, the capital provider, did not interfere with the operations of the newly established company.

In the future, they could all become shareholders of the company, and they would also receive high salaries.

So what was there to hesitate about?

Li Chen, upon receiving Hou Hongliang's reply, also laughed heartily over the phone.

Hou Hongliang also felt the other's joy.

"Director Li, do you have any good suggestions for the name of the new company?" Hou Hongliang smiled.

"Hmm, how about Donghua Noon Sunshine?"

"You all are from Shandong, and I'm from Beijing. Tokyo doesn't sound good, so let's go with Donghua, right?"

"Donghua Noon Sunshine." Hou Hongliang murmured.

"Good, it will be called Donghua Noon Sunshine."

"I hope every work we produce can be as bright and dazzling as the noon sun," Hou Hongliang said excitedly.

"Director Li, I will rush to Beijing as soon as possible to prepare for the company's opening."

"Alright, alright, since we share similar interests, don't keep calling me Director Li, Director Li."

"I'll take the liberty of calling you Old Hou, and you can just call me Li Chen. Being too polite just creates distance for no reason."

"Alright, Li Chen, I'll return to Beijing as soon as possible. For the first production, I must make the company's name known!"

Thanks to fellow reader: What's missing comes 2000 coins for the character Miss Liu.

Thank you all for your votes and support.

I also want to be fast, but some business actions cannot be glossed over, otherwise the later plot would be too abrupt. However, I will try to write less about business, after all, it's a Chinese entertainment feel-good novel.