As an excellent and decisive businessman, Thomas instantly understood what serious consequences Zhang Fan would have if he broke the contract at this time!

Because he took the initiative to ask Zhang Fan for help, when Zhang Fan proposed that the liquidated damages were very low, Thomas only felt surprised but did not consider that Zhang Fan would threaten to break the contract one day!

The liquidated damages paid by Zhang Fan are a drop in the bucket compared to the money Thomas owes to the bank. The loss of the publishing house and Zhang Fan's works means that the Thomas family's desire to become the largest publisher in the United States has been completely cut off!

After thinking these things through, a wry smile appeared on Thomas's face.

In this case, he is like a fish on the board, and he can only be at the mercy of Zhang Fan. When you change the royalty sharing, you have to do it if you can't!

"I don't know what Mr. Zhang thinks is the appropriate royalty share?" Knowing that he had no way to refuse, Thomas could only sigh and agree. At this time, he just begged Zhang Fan not to offer too ruthlessly.

Facing Thomas's pleading gaze, Zhang Fan shook his head with a smile, and stretched out his hand to signal Li Ruhui on the side, "My agent is responsible for all these things." ”

Thomas felt that Li Ruhui was too powerful, so he wanted to take Zhang Fan's route. He heard that Chinese people value friendship very much, especially treating friends very well, even if they are stabbed twice in the chest by their friends, they don't care.

It's just that how could Zhang Fan harm his own interests for the sake of an American publisher? He doesn't like Brokeback Mountain. didn't see Thomas's performance at all, and left everything to Li Ruhui to deal with.

"I think 40 percent is a very reasonable royalty share. Li Ruhui's face remained unchanged and put forward her own requirements.

"What?!" After hearing Li Ruhui's request, Thomas jumped up directly. He really jumped up from his seat and shouted angrily, "Even Grandet wouldn't make such a request!!"

Grande, who is synonymous with profiteers in the Western world, was shouted out by Thomas, which shows how difficult it is for him to accept the share ratio proposed by Li Ruhui.

Although Thomas took the lion's share, all the costs were his. Printing needs cost, transportation needs cost, sales need cost, channel needs cost, publicity also needs cost.

And according to the convention, the books given by the publishing house to the seller are all discounted, even if Zhang Fan's book sales are hot, the discount can be less, but this is also a huge expense!

After calculating all kinds of miscellaneous expenses, if he accepted the 40% share proposed by Li Ruhui, then he Thomas not only couldn't earn a dime, but he had to subsidize a large amount of money by himself!

"It's impossible for me to accept this percentage. Thomas calmed down a little and sat back in his seat, shaking his head constantly, "I'm going to give discounts to sellers everywhere, and I have to take the risk of not selling the books when they are printed." This percentage of the share will make me lose money. No matter who is in business, it is impossible to accept a loss-making business. ”

"Discounts are a matter of sales. Li Ruhui's calm analysis "Zhang Fan's works are very popular, and the discount given by this kind of sales performance does not need to be much. As for the risk that the book cannot be sold after it is printed, judging from the sales results of Zhang Fan's works at this time, this is impossible. So this aspect of risk aversion is not needed in the first place. ”

Before coming, Li Ruhui had made full preparations, so she naturally knew what Thomas was talking about. As for asking for a 40% royalty share, this is a sky-high asking price to repay the money. Zhang Fan wants a partner, not Thomas Press.

"No, no, no. Thomas shook his head, "I can't accept this kind of sharing. ”

In the following time, Li Ruhui and Thomas had a long tug-of-war negotiation on the sharing ratio. The two sides bargained with each other on a 0.1% basis, constantly approaching the acceptable price between the two sides.

For Thomas, it is now impossible for his publishing house to abandon Zhang Fan's work. Because once Zhang Fan's works are lost, it means that his publishing house will inevitably be finished.

And Zhang Fan and Li Ruhui are also reluctant to go to the cooperation channels that already have a foundation, so they have to find new partners again. The main point of contention between the two sides is the sharing ratio.

Eventually, Zhang Fan reached a new agreement with Thomas Publishing to increase the royalty share of his works to 30 percent.

This price is not a small pressure for Thomas Press, and it can be said that it is a real small profit but quick turnover. However, Zhang Fan's works are selling very well, and they still have enough money to make.

Zhang Fan can also get more income, and these works have also brought him a huge reputation and influence.

"Mr. Zhang. After reaching a cooperation, Thomas began to lobby Zhang Fan for another thing: "Many TV stations and film and television companies want to win the adaptation rights of your work, and the prices they offer are very attractive. ”

"There's no rush in this matter. Zhang Fan smiled and waved his hand: "I don't have the idea of selling the adaptation rights yet." ”

Zhang Fan naturally can't sell the adaptation rights, he wants to open the door to Hollywood, these excellent works are stepping stones, how can he give up these adaptation rights for the dollar? And if it is adapted into a movie, he can earn more profits!

"That's a shame. Thomas sighed. The adaptation rights of these works have a very strong ability to attract money, but unfortunately the copyright does not belong to his publishing house.

If the copyright can be taken away from Zhang Fan's hands when the agreement is signed, then Thomas Publishing will inevitably rise with the wind and become the largest publishing house in the United States.

However, Thomas is not a fool, knowing that it is impossible for Zhang Fan to give up his copyright and give this big cake to himself. can only watch with great greed from the sidelines.

"You're going to Redwood City, California, these days. After leaving Thomas Press, Zhang Fan instructed Li Ruhui to "discuss the game adaptation with Electronic Arts (EA)." ”

"Resident Evil?" asked Li Ruhui aloud.

"And Warcraft. The corners of Zhang Fan's mouth hooked up a smile, "I have a few other game projects, Plants vs. Zombies, Need for Speed or something." Take it all to EA to work with. ”

"What kind of cooperation?" Li Ruhui asked the most important question.

"Let EA use their vast channels to help us get the word out. Zhang Fan smiled and waved his hand, "You can give them a little more sweetness at the beginning, but the copyright must be held in your hand anyway." By the way, the lower the liquidated damages, the better. ”

"Before the cooperation began, I was thinking about pitting people. Li Ruhui glanced at Zhang Fan and knew what he meant by setting the liquidated damages as low as possible.

Zhang Fan is an outsider in the United States and has no foundation in himself. Even though I have all kinds of excellent works, I don't have a channel to promote them. So, he needed a local partner.

It's just that Zhang Fan knows very well that the needs of businessmen for profits are endless. Just like Thomas Press, Thomas Press, which was about to go out of business, relied entirely on Zhang Fan's works to bring the dead back to life, and even become bigger and bigger. But they are still unwilling to share more benefits with Zhang Fan, and they are even playing the idea of copyright of Zhang Fan's works.

This is true of a publishing house on the verge of bankruptcy, let alone EA, which is on par with Ubisoft in the world of games.

Therefore, it is important to get all the preparations done before starting a cooperation.

Zhang Fan came up with excellent works, and then asked EA to use their huge channels to promote them. When the market matures, it will discuss with EA to increase its share. If EA is unwilling or wants to take advantage of itself, then Zhang Fan doesn't mind tearing up the contract and eating all the benefits himself.

This is the mall, and there is no humanity to speak of. Only the distribution of benefits of Chiguoguo!

"Where are you going now?" Li Ruhui asked aloud as she looked at the gradually darkening sky.

"Let's go eat first. Zhang Fan waved his arm and walked towards the car, "Prepare for tomorrow's premiere." ”

After intense post-production and theatrical scheduling, the slumdog millionaire finally arrived at the time of release. For the sake of this crucial film, Zhang Fan did not even go to the premiere of Naoki Hanzawa in Japan.

Compared to the Japanese film market, Hollywood is naturally more important. Moreover, if it can be successful in Hollywood, it will be even more brilliant in Japan. No way, who let the Japanese worship the United States like crazy?

The premiere of the film took place at the Hollywood Theater, which has a close relationship with Disney. Although Zhang Fan has his own film company in Hollywood, as an outsider, there is definitely no way to compare with Disney in terms of influence.

In order for this work to be successful, Zhang Fan spilled a lot of green dollars. With the help of Disney, many Hollywood stars were invited to support the scene. This kind of thing is the same no matter what country it is.

People like Ellen Paige, Johnny Depp and others all appeared at the premiere. And what surprised Zhang Fan was that heartthrob Leonardo and Scarlett Johansson, who has been very popular in Hollywood recently, were also invited. It seems that Disney is also very optimistic about this movie.

As one of the hosts, Zhang Fan warmly greeted every guest, and his performance was very eye-catching under the flashing lights of many reporters. And these Hollywood are obviously doing well in both the face of the dollar and Disney, and they seem to be harmonious.

The appearance of Leonardo, Johnny Depp, Scarlett Johansson and others made many reporters and fans chant their names as if they were excited. And Zhang Fan, who faces the East, is obviously much inferior in this regard.

"Looks like you still need to work hard. Li Ruhui, who was wearing a beautiful evening dress, stood beside Zhang Fan, smiling and joking.

Before, both Lin Yueqing and Ueto Cai and others called Zhang Fan and wanted to attend the premiere together. Attending such occasions is no less effective than winning awards at home.

It's just that Zhang Fan chose Li Ruhui after some careful consideration. Now he has just entered Hollywood, and he has not yet reached the point where he can do whatever he wants.

"Someday. Zhang Fan raised his chin slightly, his eyes were full of confidence, "I will be the focus of everyone's attention!"