After listening to Director Yang Jie's statement of "neither humble nor arrogant", Cao Zhiqiang did not reply immediately, but picked up the teacup and drank it slowly.

By the way, I also took the opportunity to think about the pros and cons of investing in the Journey to the West crew.

To tell the truth, from a historical point of view, the 86 version of "Journey to the West" is indeed a classic, and he himself really likes it, after all, it is one of his favorite TV series when he was a child in his previous life.

But from his personal point of view, investing in the 86 version of Journey to the West at this time is completely thankless.

Frankly speaking, although the live-action shooting of Journey to the West was blown very well, in Cao Zhiqiang's opinion, this is completely a bit of a snake to add to the meaning, or rather, it is not a necessary option.

Because in Cao Zhiqiang's view, a mythological drama like Journey to the West does not need to be filmed on live at all.

Of course, this is not to say that live shooting is not needed, but if you pursue live action shooting too much, you will abandon the basics.

Journey to the West is a mythological drama, not a landscape documentary, and you can shoot a few key shots, such as the scene where the master and apprentice cross the waterfall, or go to Zhangjiajie to shoot some long shots, and then most of the other shots can be shot in the studio.

In fact, Cao Zhiqiang remembered that when he watched Journey to the West when he was a child in his previous life, he didn't have much impression of those real-life scenery at all, but he was more impressed by the characters one by one, such as the king of the daughter country.

Oh, by the way, the king of the daughter country, now he sleeps with him, and she is pregnant.

Of course, at this time, the Journey to the West crew has not yet filmed the episode of Daughter Country.

Looking at the filming progress of the Journey to the West crew, it is estimated that after Zhu Lin gives birth, he will still have time to film the king of his daughter's country.

Far from it.

In other words, although director Yang Jie's live-action shooting spirit is indeed a bold innovation, Cao Zhiqiang looks at it from the perspective of a simple audience, which is completely unnecessary.

Seriously, according to Cao Zhiqiang's own perception, the background that impressed him the most in the 86 version of Journey to the West was actually the Heavenly Palace of Havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and the Dragon Palace of the Dragon Palace in the East China Sea.

And these places were all filmed in the studio.

In addition, like "Woe to Guanyin Temple", you don't have to go to places like Fujian and Hangzhou to shoot real scenes, and then edit and synthesize.

This kind of shooting takes time, effort and money, but the actual effect is very average.

After all, when you really watch the episode of "Woe Kannon Temple", who really pays attention to where the background is.

In other words, in Cao Zhiqiang's opinion, even the episode of "Woe to Guanyin Temple" can be filmed in the studio.

Even if they were to build a simple temple for this purpose, the overall cost would be less than the money they spent on filming on location.

Moreover, after the construction of a temple, it is not a one-time investment, and it can be used as a tourist spot and a tourism industry afterwards.

In this way, when "Journey to the West" is officially broadcast, you can still get back a steady stream of income from this "Journey to the West" film and television city.

Not only that, but this method also has the value of the land.

If this Journey to the West Film and Television City is built within the Third Ring Road, it will be even more remarkable when the land price rises in the future.

That is to say, if you want to approve a large piece of land for construction in the name of an individual, of course it will not work.

But if it is in the name of building a film and television city and filming my country's first mythological TV series Journey to the West, it can be applied.

At this point, the crew of the 87th version of "Dream of Red Mansions" did a good job.

When filming Dream of Red Mansions, the crew specially applied to the Beiping Municipal Government for this purpose, asking to create an antique garden that is convenient for filming Dream of Red Mansions, that is, Beiping Grand View Garden.

Hey, it seems that the Grand View Garden was approved and built in 1984, and I don't remember the specific month, but it is likely to be the second half of the year.

In short, after the completion of the Beiping Grand View Park, the Dream of Red Mansions crew not only paid off the arrears by selling tickets, but also became a famous 3A-level tourist attraction, and the follow-up has always been profitable.

No one has specifically counted the specific profit of Peking Grand View Park, but it will certainly not be less.

Because as early as the construction of the Grand View Garden, when it was only the first phase of the project, the number of tourists here exceeded one million in a year, which was a very terrifying figure at that time.

As for the later land income, it is needless to mention.

Cao Zhiqiang remembered that the Beiping Grand View Garden he visited in his previous life covers an area of 130,000 square meters, and it is also within the second ring road, in the corner between the west second ring road and the south second ring road, and the geographical location is very good.

Needless to say 2024, let's just say 2010, you just look at the housing prices within the second ring road of Beiping.

Therefore, from an investment point of view, the construction of the Grand View Garden in the name of filming the Dream of Red Mansions is a sure way to make a profit.

In addition, Cao Zhiqiang recently plans to build a foreign-related hotel.

If the address of the foreign-related hotel can also be included, then the income is even higher.

In other words, if Cao Zhiqiang is asked to shoot Journey to the West, he will not follow Director Yang Jie's example and focus on live-action shooting.

He will focus on studio shooting, and will take the opportunity to build a Journey to the West Film and Television City.

In doing so, you may not be able to save money, but you can make money.

It's not like the 86 version of Dream of Red Mansions in history, it's just that it's famous enough, but the actual income is very low.

Simply relying on selling copyrights to recover the cost will be the year of the monkey.

Besides, Director Yang's tone is too big.

As soon as he opened his mouth, he asked him for 3 million shooting funds.

And these three million are purely given, there is no other guarantee, and Cao Zhiqiang cannot be allowed to interfere with the specific shooting.

At most, Cao Zhiqiang can play a cameo role in it, and at the end of each episode, when the subtitles are released, a thank you subtitle such as "special thanks" is played.

Losing money and making money like this, of course Cao Zhiqiang is not interested.

However, although I want to refuse, how to say no is also an art.

The euphemism that must be rejected must not be offended.

Thinking of this, Cao Zhiqiang put down the teacup and sighed before speaking: "Director Yang, I absolutely agree with your idea of live-action shooting, and I absolutely believe that you can shoot this classic Journey to the West well."

Personally, I'm more than happy to sponsor.

But...... You're late, and I really can't get that money out now. ”

"Huh?" Director Yang Jie, who was also drinking tea, was stunned, quickly put down the teacup, and then smiled slightly.

"Director Cao, you're laughing.

Now who doesn't know that you are the richest individual in our country, with personal property of more than 10 million, and the property you actually control is more than 100 million, and you are the absolute richest man in the country.

The richest man in the country like you, is there still a shortage of those three million?

So, if you don't want to invest, and to put it bluntly, I can understand why, why make those excuses? ”

Cao Zhiqiang immediately made a surprised expression: "Wait a while, wait a while?" The richest man in the country? 10 million personal property? Actually controlled more than 100 million in property? Who's talking nonsense about this? How did I not know that I was so rich? ”

Seeing Cao Zhiqiang behaving like this, Director Yang Jie frowned, but soon smiled again: "Everyone is saying this, it is groundless, and it may not be without a reason."

What's more, the film you shot before is said to be a huge hit in Japan, becoming the highest-grossing film last year, grossing more than 9.75 billion yen.

Now the exchange rate of the yen to the RMB is 100 to 1, even if it is converted to RMB, it is 97.5 million RMB.

In Japan, you have earned at least 9.75 million RMB based on one-tenth of your income.

This is still a simple formal exchange channel.

If you are using Japanese yen for foreign exchange, then this purchasing power is much more than that.

Coupled with what you earned before, 10 million is to say less.

It's still your personal asset.

If you include the business assets you own, it's even less so.

Nowadays, the people of our whole country, one is counted as one, not counting overseas Chinese and foreign guests, and you are the only one who can really exceed 10 million individuals.

You say, you're not the richest man in the country, who are? ”

Hearing what the other party said, Cao Zhiqiang shook his head and smiled bitterly: "My Director Yang, you are also an old-timer, you should know that the rumors are not credible."

If I really have so much money, why don't I continue to stay up late writing songs and find all kinds of ways to find money?

If I really have so much money, I can't spend it all in my life, isn't it fragrant to retire early? Why are you still fighting so hard? ”

Director Yang Jie frowned: "But everyone said that." ”

Cao Zhiqiang said: "Therefore, it is necessary to spread falsehoods. ”

After a pause, Cao Zhiqiang said again: "Well, since you are an old-timer in the director industry and your own person, then I will tell you the truth and announce my actual property."

First of all, there is the Japanese box office that you mentioned.

That's right, my "Love in the Rain" did achieve a good box office in Japan, and it was indeed the No. 1 box office last year, with a total box office of more than 9.75 billion yen, which is the highest in history.

But the problem is that I want to send this foreign film in the name of Hongguang Film Studio, and cooperate with the distribution company there, that is, Toho Co., Ltd.

It is said to be a cooperative distribution, but in fact, the initiative is in the hands of others.

Although externally, we are a box office sharing model, but the proportion we can get is pitiful.

The amount of money we can get is not a tenth of the total box office at all, which is a complete exaggeration.

In fact, the total box office in Japan is not the same as ours.

The box office on their side is divided into the total box office and the ration box office.

The total box office is the total number of box offices, yes.

But in fact, at least half of the total box office should be allocated to the cinema itself, and the remaining half is the part that the major distribution companies can take, which is called rationing box office.

In other words, the box office ration alone has been cut in half, and it is only 4.8 billion yen.

The 4.8 billion, and then all kinds of points, we can actually account for only one-twelfth of it, which is already very high.

In other words, the share we can get from this movie is only 400 million yen, and that's it, we still have to pay taxes, and the actual amount we get is more than 300 million.

According to the current official exchange rate, it is almost more than 3 million RMB.

But the problem is that this income is the income of Hongguang Film Studio, not my personal income, and it cannot be counted as my personal funds.

Although I am the director of Hongguang Film Factory, this factory is still a serious state-owned enterprise and is under the leadership of the Film Bureau.

After this part of the money is in hand, a part of the tax must be paid, and the rest will be less than 2 million.

Of course, this is still nominal.

Actually, because of time, we never got the money.

Although we urged the Japanese side to send us money quickly.

But the Japanese side said that the box office settlement is very complicated, and the money will not be paid until March this year at the earliest.

No way, people are Party A, we are Party B, and you must understand this kind of thing when you are pressed by Party A.

In other words, the "Love in the Rain" has indeed achieved good results in Japan and has indeed made money.

But if you really want to get it, it will be March at the earliest.

This is still the fastest.

In fact, I estimate that at most, a part of it will be given in March, and the remaining part of the balance will be available before June, which is good.

So, for the time being, the money made from that movie can't be counted, and I can't get that money at all now.

As for the other parts.

Yes, I have quite a few businesses on hand right now.

Including Hongguang Film Factory, Hongguang Publishing House, Hongguang Department Store, Hongguang Transportation Company and so on.

But these companies are all subsidiaries of Hongguang Machinery Factory, and many companies are just a name, not the real leader.

What I can really say is the Hongguang Publishing House, and later it was separated and became my personal company, Huaxia Audiovisual Company.

I'll admit that I used to make a lot of money selling poetry books and records through the Red Light Publishing House.

The sum of these sums is probably less than two million, which is a lot.

On top of that, I also work as a singer in Japan, and I make some money by singing.

If you add what I earned before, the mess is all counted, and the total is more than 3 million RMB.

However, when I was in Japan, I bought a lot of advanced recording equipment and prepared to ship it back to my own private company, Huaxia Audiovisual Company, so that I could better record high-quality records.

Now, the batch of equipment has arrived at Tianjin Port, and it is still waiting for me to sign the order for acceptance.

I've pretty much run out of money to buy these devices.

That's it, in fact, it wasn't enough, I actually borrowed a sum of money from a Japanese record company with a few new songs as collateral, and then I paid back the money to buy recording equipment.

In other words, I only have less than 300,000 in my hands now.

But for these 300,000 yuan, I still have to pay salaries to the people of Hongguang Film Factory and Huaxia Audio-visual Company, and I also have records, which cannot be moved.

Huaxia Audiovisual Company won't mention it, what about Hongguang Film Studio, theoretically I shouldn't pay my salary personally, but who let the money from selling movies haven't been paid yet, so I will advance the money to the film factory first, and then return it to me when the money comes.

Seriously, I'm really short of money right now.

If it weren't for the room in this Jianguo Hotel, I had paid the room fee for three months in advance, and the room fee was not refunded, I would have wanted to refund the room fee here.

So, Director Yang, it's rare that you came to me and opened this mouth with me.

Supposedly, I should have said yes.

But!

I'm really out of money now!

As long as I can still have some spare money, even if I have tens of thousands of dollars to spare, I will definitely support you.

After all, I also want to leave a little bit of my own shadow in this TV series that is destined to go down in history.

Alas, alas, it's really not working now.

I really don't have any money in my hand.

The little money that I had was all planned and put into the company's account.

I only have a few hundred yuan in money for living expenses now.

Then, I'm going to be honest with you in front of Lao Xu today.

So, trust me!

It's not like I don't want to give.

I really can't give it! ”