N-M Chapter 638 Gu Qing's Profit Sharing - Sister Zhao Broke?
Chapter 638 Gu Qing's Profit Sharing - Sister Zhao Broke?
……
……
January passed in the blink of an eye.
The sensational "4,000-year autograph photo" incident at the beginning of the month has long been washed away by the surging flood of information.
New and exciting news stories keep popping up. Today it's who's officially announcing their relationship, tomorrow it's who's having a falling out. Netizens who enjoy gossip don't have time to dwell on the past.
Gu Qing only appeared on the trending topics twice throughout January.
the first time,
It was during the response to Principal Wang at the beginning of the month that Gu Qing arranged for her team to remove the trending topic after it had been up for a day.
The second time was on January 10th.
On this day, all the films released during the Spring Festival season underwent their final box office settlement.
"Sisters Who Make Waves" sits firmly on the champion's throne with an absolute crushing advantage, with a host of opponents far behind them.
First place: "Duckweed" (also known as "Ride the Wind and Waves"): Total box office: 32.15 billion yuan.
Second place: Blood of Steel: 3.81 million.
Third place: "Youth" (芳华): 3.55 million.
There's no need to mention the fourth place and below; even those that break 100 million are few and far between.
32.15 billion versus 3.81 million,
It's a complete dimensional reduction attack.
Just as it achieved such high box office results,
Gu Qing was also attacked by those sour rivals who bought marketing accounts to smear her.
Some say his new movie's box office has halved, his box office appeal has diminished, and it's far less successful than "Wolf Warrior 2".
The new movie only grossed "3 billion" at the box office!
These press releases and smear stories are naturally news meant for amusement during leisure time.
As soon as the Gu family members rushed in, the editor sheepishly deleted the article, canceled the account, and surrendered.
Meanwhile, the entertainment industry was already in an uproar.
"Another three billion! What's the difference between this and picking up money from a sack?!"
"Does anyone have Gu Qing's autographed photo? I really need to keep one by my bedside to ward off evil spirits."
"I don't believe he doesn't have some kind of luck about him."
"This is five consecutive years! I've noticed that whenever Gu Qing's movies are released, they've never fallen out of the top spot!"
Colleagues in the industry all expressed their feelings.
From Gu Qing's first film, "Brotherhood of Blades," to "The Left Ear," to "Detective Chinatown," to "Wolf Warrior 2," and now to the recently concluded "Duckweed."
Without exception, every single film he starred in became the box office champion in its release period.
This scene was unlike anything anyone had ever witnessed before.
Nobody believes you even if you say it's about ability!
Who has the ability to achieve such a smooth and successful career?
Some eccentric big bosses have already lost track of what kind of person Gu Qing is.
On the external side,
The fans were naturally overjoyed.
In Gu Qing's super topic, celebratory posts came one after another, with people forwarding and sending red envelopes, holding raffles to give away merchandise, and doing data ranking and promotion. It was as lively as celebrating the New Year in advance.
at the moment,
The most overjoyed were none other than the investors of "The Legend of the Demon Cat".
When they signed Gu Qing, they were attracted by his popularity and online presence.
But who could have imagined,
The movie "Wolf Warrior 2" propelled Gu Qing to legendary status.
Following closely behind, "Duckweed" successfully capitalized on this momentum, achieving both box office and critical acclaim.
what is this?
This is an incredibly cheap publicity deal that was completely free!
Even before "The Legend of the Demon Cat" was finished filming, audience expectations had already been raised to the highest level.
Everyone is eagerly anticipating it.
What kind of sparks will fly when Gu Qing collaborates with a traditional director for the first time?
What kind of chemical reaction will occur when Director Chen's artistic aesthetics are combined with Gu Qing's face?
The investors are already dreaming about the box office results.
Three billion? Four billion? Or even more than six billion, the box office of "Wolf Warrior 2"?
"Slurp~"
I dare not think about it, I really dare not think about it.
at the same time,
The big players in the industry are also getting restless.
With box office revenues often reaching billions, who wouldn't be envious?
In a large circle, no one can eat alone.
These are the rules that are written out in the open.
Wu Jing is exhausted after filming "Wolf Warrior 2".
Even Chen Sicheng, who owns the "Detective Chinatown" IP, can't do it.
Attracting investment and sharing the profits are unavoidable.
But this is often not necessarily a bad thing.
The more investors there are, the lower the risk, and the more the director in charge of filming can earn.
From investing with my own money and bearing all profits and losses, to using investors' money to make a clean profit.
This is the career advancement path that every film and television professional dreams of.
Gu Qing has undoubtedly reached the top of this path.
His current salary for a single film is fluctuating between two and three hundred million.
This number was unthinkable just a few years ago.
But now, the capitalists don't even blink.
It's given!
I'll give you as much as you want!
As long as Gu Qing is willing to act, the best director, the best special effects, the greatest power, everything will be offered to you!
I'll agree to any conditions and fulfill any request, as long as I can get him to sign the contract.
script?
As long as Gu Qing says what kind of script he wants to film, they will immediately send someone to write it and immediately send someone to buy it.
Only with Gu Qing's approval can a project be approved.
Anyone can do the math.
Zhao Ya became the biggest victim during this period, suffering terribly from the phone calls.
The bosses from all those companies called personally; you couldn't refuse to answer.
The voices on the other end of the phone were increasingly enthusiastic and friendly.
"Miss Zhao, congratulations! Mr. Gu Qing's movie is a huge success again. He's truly a promising young man!"
"I heard that Gu Qing is currently filming Director Chen's movie? That must be exhausting. How about we go out for a meal to relax? It's on me!"
"When is our brother going to have a celebration banquet? We'll definitely be there to support him! We'll give him the biggest accolade!"
Zhao Ya listened to these enthusiastic invitations, her mind perfectly clear.
This was no victory celebration banquet; it was clearly a trap.
Which of these people didn't come with their own agenda?
Zhao Ya relayed these invitations to Gu Qing verbatim.
Gu Qing sat on a rattan chair on set, flipping through the script for the next scene.
After listening to Zhao Ya's report, he didn't even look up, and only said one sentence:
"If you decline, just say you're filming and can't be in two places at once."
"Good boss."
Zhao Ya had already guessed this outcome and wrote it down neatly.
Whether or not a victory celebration banquet is held is not very meaningful.
It's purely for socializing, showing off, and providing an opportunity for those with connections to make connections.
"Duckweed" was a family affair; everyone made a good movie happily, and the money was divided cleanly—that's enough.
A group of strangers, each with their own agenda, flocked in, exchanging pleasantries and empty words.
Laughing until your face is stiff, drinking until your stomach hurts, what's the point?
Gu Qing wasn't ignorant of social etiquette; he simply felt that some social interactions were necessary, while others were superfluous.
Clearly, this victory celebration belonged to the latter.
He's an investor; if he says he won't do it, he won't. Who can force him to?
Sometimes, being a little arrogant isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The following twenty days,
Gu Qing really seemed to have disappeared from the internet.
He stayed comfortably on set, working from sunrise to sunset, living a simple life between the film set and the hotel.
Director Chen's filming of "The Legend of the Demon Cat" is in full swing, and Gu Qing has a lot of scenes to film, with scenes to be filmed every day.
His name was absent from the trending topics list for a full twenty days, which initially made his fans anxious.
"Where's my brother? Where's my brother?! We haven't heard from him for twenty days!"
"Director Chen! Release my brother! We want to see him!"
"Waaaaah, is my child being kept locked up on set by Director Chen?"
"Sisters, don't worry, your brother is filming, he must be working very hard, we should be understanding."
"I understand, but... but I miss my little brother!"
Every day, people in the super topic are posting "The Nth day of missing my brother," and fans are wailing everywhere as their longing accumulates.
Aside from filming,
Gu Qing really couldn't stay idle.
The first thing to be addressed is the revenue sharing from the box office of "Duckweed".
This amount of money is too large.
He had to oversee the entire process, personally verifying every number and reviewing every contract himself.
Total box office: 32.15 billion.
This number looks impressive, but the actual amount that actually ends up in our hands is far less.
First, there's a 5% deduction for the National Film Special Fund, then there's a 3.3% value-added tax.
After deducting these two items, the total box office revenue actually received was 29.38 billion yuan.
This 29.38 billion is the "distributable box office," which is the pie that all parties can sit down and share.
In this divisible cake,
Cinemas and theater chains typically take 50% to 57% of the revenue; that's the lion's share, a fixed percentage.
Gu Qing's team went through multiple rounds of negotiations with the theaters, thanks to the consistently strong box office performance of his films.
Five consecutive blockbuster films brought substantial returns to theaters each time.
The theaters "kindly" opted for the minimum allocation, taking only 50%.
50% of 29.38 billion is 14.69 billion.
With this cut from the cinema chain, only half the cake remains.
The remaining 14.69 billion yuan is the money that the production company can actually control.
Of these 14.69 billion,
There's also the 10% agency fee charged by the distributor and Han Han's personal 8% share of the box office revenue.
Because the agreement was reached in advance, these two revenue sharing figures are calculated after deducting the production and marketing costs of 2.5 million.
Therefore, after deducting costs.
The issuer takes 10%: 1.219 million.
Han Han took 8%: 9752 million.
The remaining amount is 9.9958 million.
This is pre-tax income.
Then deduct 15% corporate income tax.
The final amount Gu Qing personally received was:
"849.58 million yuan..."
Gu Qing looked at the final figures sent by the finance department. At first, he thought it was quite a lot.
But when you see,
The cinema chains that controlled the distribution rights easily pocketed 14.69 billion yuan.
He also felt... that it was nothing special.
This is the harsh reality of this industry.
Content creators work themselves to the bone to make a good movie, but the real winners are often those who sit back and collect money on distribution channels.
When Gu Qing thought about the coming winter,
The film and television industry has launched a barrage of attacks on cinemas.
The revenue share demanded by theater chains is too high, while the actual risk they bear is too small.
The more popular a film is, the more money theaters make.
Conversely, some low-budget films that nobody watches actually offer extra discounts.
This set of rules is clearly unreasonable.
"Forget it, they're too powerful; I can't compete with them."
Gu Qing shook her head, putting the thought out of her mind.
He had no intention of becoming a guiding light for the industry.
The cinema market is currently booming, with box office revenue hitting new highs every year.
Anyone who dares to criticize the cinemas at this critical juncture is practically committing suicide.
After receiving her share of the money, Gu Qing didn't rest.
He directly transferred a sum of money from the account and sent the accountant a list:
"Brother Chao and Sister Liying, ten million each. Brother Han, five million. Zijian, Liuyi, and Benyu, one million each."
The accountant confirmed twice: "Boss, are you sure?"
"OK, let's do it."
This was something he had planned all along.
When Zhao Liying and Zhao Chao took on the role in "Duckweed", they each lowered their fees and made a guest appearance for 5 million yuan.
Five million is a lot for a top-tier artist.
Putting aside the sensitive period of the tax payment controversy, it was absolutely the lowest price imaginable.
Old Deng is a movie star, his value speaks for itself, he could easily earn more than that by doing a variety show.
Although Zhao Liying is still considered a newcomer in the film industry, her TV drama salary has already exceeded tens of millions. Five million for a movie is practically the same as acting for free.
There is no such thing as pure friendship in the adult world, let alone in the entertainment industry.
Behind every collaboration lie complex considerations on multiple levels—interpersonal relationships, interests, future development, reputation building, etc.
Sometimes, Gu Qing doesn't want to deliberately make clear distinctions.
He has a large following, high popularity, and is a national sensation. He also has the "magical buff" of being a lucky charm, so there are plenty of people willing to associate with him.
Let alone five million,
Even if they make a cameo appearance for free, the movie will still have plenty of actors.
As long as his name appears in the lead actor list, plenty of people are willing to pay extra to act in it.
But if you really calculate things so clearly, you'll feel at ease eating your fill and taking it for granted that others should help you.
Over time, he will also lose something.
The human heart is the most vulnerable thing to being manipulated.
The 15 million yuan salary is neither high nor low, enough to maintain Deng Chao and Zhao Liying's market value.
That way, their salaries for guest appearances won't be leaked one day, making things difficult for them in the future.
Han Han's five million is worth it.
Although his personal share as a director was included in the box office revenue, Gu Qing still wanted to give him a separate red envelope.
Talented young directors are the most scarce resource in the film industry.
The remaining Zijian, Liuyi, and Benyu each received one million, while Gu Qing simply and happily scattered the money.
By the time the accountant confirmed that all remittances had been successful, it was already evening.
After Gu Qing finished filming the last scene of the day, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening when she returned to the hotel.
He hung his coat on the hanger, changed into slippers, and was about to go to the bathroom to take a hot bath.
Despite the tiring filming, Gu Qing felt quite relaxed and comfortable.
After a month, half of his scenes had been filmed, and Director Chen hadn't caused any trouble.
This greatly changed Gu Qing's opinion of him, making her realize that not all the negative information online was true.
At least in his presence, Director Chen seemed like a perfect person. They had only gone halfway...
The phone started buzzing incessantly again.
Since the remittance was made,
Gu Qing's phone exploded.
Deng Chao and Zhao Liying made countless missed calls.
Han Han also sent out many messages in a row.
I didn't dare to say anything in the group chat on June 1st.
Ben Yu first showered Gu Qing with praise and offered several blessings before accepting the gift with embarrassment.
"Hehe, Gu Qing, mwah! This is the biggest red envelope I've ever received. It's so great to work with you!"
Dong Zijian accepted it without any hesitation, grinning as he did so.
Gu Qing couldn't help but laugh out loud when she saw the message.
He called Old Deng back first.
The phone was answered almost immediately after one ring.
"Hey! Little brother!"
Deng Chao's voice came through the receiver.
"Brother Chao, do you miss me?"
Gu Qing asked with a smile.
"Don't give me that crap, kid. I'm not here for small talk. I'm asking you, what's the meaning of transferring ten million into my account?"
Your account was hacked? You're not trying to scam me, are you?
Old Deng spoke rapidly, asking questions incessantly.
"Brother Chao, it wasn't stolen."
Gu Qing took two steps and sat down on the sofa. "Didn't I say in the message that this is a red envelope for you?"
"Whose big contributor gave a ten million yuan bonus?"
Deng Chao's voice rose eight octaves, clearly startled by the number.
"Little brother, don't think making money from movies is easy!"
Having acted in so many films over the years, I've seen far too many people go bankrupt from losing money.
The success of one film doesn't guarantee future success. You can't start spending money recklessly just because you made money this time...
Deng Chao spoke faster and faster, more and more urgently.
"You should take this money back! You earned it yourself through investment and took on the risks, why should you share it with me?"
"Brother Chao, take it."
Gu Qing said softly, with a smile in her voice, "Consider it compensation for the grievances you suffered in the drama."
"Calling someone 'Dad' gets you a ten million yuan red envelope, what's there to complain about!"
Old Deng laughed and cursed, recalling the scene in the movie where someone was forced to "recognize a father".
"Alright, don't feel bad, keep calling next time, I'll give you another ten million."
Gu Qing followed his lead.
"Fuck off!"
Old Deng instantly lost his composure, "You're making fun of me now, aren't you?"
"Ha ha--"
The two of them laughed at the same time.
"Brother Chao, I don't want you to suffer a loss. Here you go. It's getting late, I need to rest. I'll hang up now."
Without saying a word, Gu Qing hung up the phone.
After that,
He dialed Sister Zhao's number.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.
"Little brother, are you... going to sever ties with me?"
Zhao Liying's first words were spoken in a hoarse female voice.
Gu Qinggang almost choked on the mouthful of water he had just swallowed.
"Sister Liying, what did you say?"
"The movie's finished, the money's been split, and you suddenly transfer ten million to me..."
Zhao Liying's voice was broken and had a noticeable nasal tone, "Do you think... you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore?"
That's why I used this method... to completely end our relationship..."
"I……"
"I've been calling you repeatedly, but you haven't answered..."
Before he could speak, Zhao Liying's voice grew softer and softer, carrying an unusual calmness, "I've waited all afternoon... If you don't like me..."
"Sister Liying, I'm filming this afternoon. This money is a red envelope for you, so don't overthink it."
Gu Qing interrupted.
"Red...red envelope?"
Zhao Liying's voice trailed off, her feigned composure vanishing completely.
The phone went silent.
"Sister Liying, are you alright?"
Gu Qing asked.
As soon as he finished speaking,
He then heard a very soft sob. The person making the sound was clearly trying to control themselves, but the suppressed whimper still leaked out of the receiver.
"Sister Liying, you..."
"I am fine."
Zhao Liying bit her lower lip and hugged the pillow in her arms tightly. "Little brother, I...I was just...scared."
You transferred so much money to me, and then you didn't answer the phone. I thought...I thought..."
She didn't finish speaking, but Gu Qing already understood.
Paying money as a farewell gift—in the entertainment industry, this is already considered the most dignified way to say goodbye.
not to mention,
She made so many calls, but Gu Qing didn't answer a single one, which made her start to overthink.
"Sister Liying, don't overthink it."
Gu Qinggang said.
"How can I not overthink it? You take your money, I don't want it!"
Zhao Liying suddenly lost control, throwing a tantrum on the phone for the first time. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she was wiping them with tissues, sobbing and gasping for breath.
Thinking of the books I had read in my spare time before,
Gu Qing decisively abandoned logical communication and first listened patiently for a while.
Waiting on the phone,
As Sister Zhao's emotions cooled down from their peak, she seemed to sense his cold violence and turned to speak, feeling wronged.
"Liying, have you been eating well lately? Also, how's the preparation for 'Princess Agents' going?"
Gu Qing slowed her tone.
"...Eat...a meal...?"
Sister Zhao's mind seemed to freeze. Following Gu Qing's words, she thought for a moment, her voice thick with a nasal tone.
"No, I'm trying to lose weight for Chu Qiao. I'll be joining the film crew right after the Spring Festival, so I haven't dared to eat anything high in calories."
"Chu Qiao is a general, how can she not eat meat?"
Gu Qing encouraged, "It's okay to have a indulgent meal once in a while. That way you'll have the energy to film action scenes."
Is it really possible?
"Of course, you can trust me."
"Then...then I'll go eat hot pot tomorrow."
Gu Qing's concern warmed Sister Zhao's heart, and she unconsciously chuckled twice. Then she felt something was amiss, and her thin, round face showed confusion.
"Have I forgotten something?"
"You haven't forgotten anything, it's just hot pot."
Gu Qing didn't give her any space to think, "By the way, Sister Liying, you said before that you signed a contract for three installments of 'Princess Agents'?"
"That's right! Three parts!"
Zhao Liying was immediately drawn to the topic, "Let me tell you, little brother, I really like the character Chu Qiao. She's unlike any of the characters I've played before..."
Her voice finally regained its vitality, and she began to speak fluently.
The discussion ranged from the script adaptation to details of the original work, from the characters' development to personal interpretations.
As if she had been holding it in for a long time, she poured out her heart to Gu Qing all at once.
Gu Qing listened attentively, occasionally responding with a few words.
Gu Qing had watched "Princess Agents" in her previous life and knew that Zhao Liying had actually signed a contract for three dramas.
He went back to read the original text again, still puzzled, and gained some insights of his own.
"Sister Liying, I think the core of Chu Qiao's character is not 'strength,' but 'choice.'"
Gu Qing replied, "Every decision she makes is a choice she is forced to make under extreme circumstances, but she never regrets it."
Zhao Liying listened and nodded repeatedly, her almond-shaped eyes shining. "Yes, yes, yes! That's how I understand it too! And what's most attractive about her is..."
The two of them started chatting on the phone, from the characters to the plot, from filming plans to the books they'd been reading, the songs they'd been listening to, and the snacks they'd been eating...
The night outside the window grew deeper and deeper.
Before I knew it, it was already past midnight.
Gu Qing has a very healthy biological clock; having stayed up this long, she covered her mouth and yawned.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was still clearly audible in the quiet of the night.
Zhao Liying's ears are very sharp: "Little brother, are you sleepy?"
"Yes, a little," Gu Qing honestly admitted.
"Then you should go to sleep, you have filming tomorrow."
Zhao Liying's voice instantly switched to "older sister mode," sounding both urgent and gentle.
"Okay, Sister Liying, you should go to sleep early too."
Gu Qing was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping, but she still reminded him, "You need to take care of your health while controlling your figure. Don't ruin your stomach in the process of losing weight."
"I know, I know."
Zhao Liying's sweet laughter: "Goodnight."
"Good night."
The phone hangs up.
Gu Qing resisted her drowsiness, took a shower, changed into her pajamas, and threw herself into the soft blankets.
He closed his eyes and groped for his phone on the bedside table, about to turn off the light—
The phone screen lit up.
Several unread text messages popped up, from Zhao Liying.
Gu Qing, fighting off her drowsiness, squinted and clicked on the app.
"Little brother, I've already arranged the money. I'll transfer it to you again by tomorrow night at the latest."
"Don't overthink it. I know you mean well, but we don't need to mix these things up between us."
Goodnight, my little master.
Sister Zhao's reply.
Gu Qing stared at the three messages, turning slightly to the side, momentarily stunned.
Gu Qing stared at the screen for a long time, her fingertips hovering above the keyboard. She typed a few words, then deleted them.
He tried several times, but in the end, he still couldn't send anything.
Gu Qing put her phone back on the bedside table, pulled the covers over her head, and muttered a complaint to herself:
In the end, only the bank made money.
That's a huge loss...
Gu Qing closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
……
And tonight,
The crew's "champion of staying up all night" is someone else.
Director Chen was standing by the hotel room window, his hands behind his back.
Gazing at the bright moon in the sky, his aged face was furrowed with deep frown, revealing a melancholy and sorrowful expression.
He didn't sleep.
He can't sleep.
He had been standing by the window for almost two hours.
Director Chen was unhappy.
He was unhappy, not because there were problems with the filming schedule.
On the contrary, the problem was that things went too smoothly.
A month has passed.
Gu Qing's scenes are being filmed according to the script, and half of them have already been shot.
half!
Director Chen felt completely useless!
He sat in front of the monitor every day like a dead tree.
Watching Gu Qing and his group film smoothly following the script.
He delivered his lines when he was supposed to, moved when he was supposed to, cried when he was supposed to, and laughed when he was supposed to—everything was perfect and flawless.
But it's just too perfect.
It was so perfect that Director Chen felt that the film was being shot like an assembly line production, and that he, as the director, was not needed at all!
He has been making films all his life and is used to focusing on details, adjusting the mood, and inspiring the actors' potential on set.
But what about Gu Qing?
He can bring out all the emotions on his own; he doesn't need the director to "guide" him at all.
Sometimes Director Chen would try to give Gu Qing some pointers on the scene, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he would see that Gu Qing had already performed the scene in a way that he had imagined better than he had expected.
He even felt that every suggestion he made was superfluous, because Gu Qing had already taken the lead and was ahead of him.
This feeling,
This left a veteran director, who had been making films for forty years, with an indescribable sense of loss.
Especially this afternoon,
Director Chen just learned from the investors that "Duckweed" has surpassed 30 billion yuan in box office revenue.
Director Chen fell silent.
The public's expectations for his collaboration with Gu Qing are already unimaginably high.
This caused even the usually easygoing Director Chen to experience unprecedented psychological pressure.
In case it airs then
"The Legend of the Demon Cat" will have to wait another ten years. Where will he put his old face?
Does he still have time to wait for another ten-year agreement?
"My abilities are beyond doubt, and Lotte's influence is undeniable, but..."
Director Chen's old habits have kicked in again.
"Can this script really support us in fully showcasing our talents?"
The more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.
The film is currently in its mid-stages of production, the plot is progressing smoothly, the visuals are exquisite, and the actors' performances are all solid.
But it lacks some truly amazing climaxes!
The full charm of the character Bai Juyi has not yet been revealed.
Gu Qing's personal traits have not yet resonated perfectly with the character.
"No, I have to step in and save this myself!"
Gazing at the bright, clear moon, Director Chen's brow furrowed, and he made up his mind:
"The Legend of the Demon Cat cannot be ruined by the screenwriter!"
……
...(End of this chapter)