Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Five: Drought and Drought, and Waterlogged, to Death

It has been raining continuously for some time now.

The weather temperature is also gradually dropping.

On the campus of Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences, tens of thousands of students began to gradually wear autumn and winter clothes. Some students who could not stand the cold even put on their own down jackets.

This place in Wucheng, when it is hot, it is extremely hot, and when it is cold, it is piercingly cold. There are only summer and winter, and spring and autumn.

Compared with usual, today's Ding Yue also put on a thin white sweater and a long trench coat. Both the sweater and the trench coat are Burberry, and the whole person looks a little gentle.

After getting dressed, Ding Yue came to the spacious balcony of his apartment as usual.

This balcony is very important.

The reason why Ding Yue chose to move his new residence here was because of this balcony.

Standing on the balcony, Ding Yue looked to the left and could see the current campus of Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences.

Looking straight ahead, you can see the Bookship Library in the distance.

Looking to the right, you can see one construction site after another. The towering tower cranes have been erected, and one construction site truck is coming in and out.

Ding Yue's vision is very broad.

You can see not only the original 2,500-acre campus, but also the first phase of the landmark building, Shujian Library, which was expanded last year.

You can also see the vast construction site in the west where the second phase of the comprehensive expansion is underway. I have to say that the location of this Yayuan apartment building can be said to be very good.

The construction of Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences is proceeding in an orderly manner. Whether it is the construction of infrastructure, the construction of the teaching level of various departments and majors, and the construction of the overall talent training of the school, they are all thriving in the bright direction.

Ding Yue enjoyed this feeling very much.

A private university of Nova University has grown continuously under its own efforts. This feeling of "farming" gives Ding Yue an extraordinary sense of accomplishment.

Of course.

Another reason why Ding Yue worked so hard to build Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences with the system is to know that when he has built Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences into the world's top comprehensive university and achieved this ultimate goal, the system will What is the ultimate reward for yourself?

Think a little excited.

Just as Ding Yue was immersed in self-thinking, the mobile phone placed on the table in the living room rang.

Ding Yue turned around and walked back to the living room, glanced at the caller ID, it was Secretary Wen Ruohan calling.

Picking up the phone, Ding Yue went out directly.

"I'm going into the elevator right now, let's talk briefly, or see you later in the second cafeteria."

"Well, Principal Ding, I have the money ready. Principal Ding, are you going to the second cafeteria for breakfast now?"

"right."

"OK."

When Ding Yue left the apartment building of Yayuan No. 1 and came to the second cafeteria, he saw Wen Ruohan, the secretary who had been waiting here.

"Morning, Principal Ding."

Wen Ruohan greeted Principal Ding warmly after seeing the approaching Principal.

"It's cooling down, aren't you cold?"

Ding Yue took a look at Wen Ruohan's clothes, and her legs were more or less exposed under the long skirt. Girls, it's enough to show her legs.

"Hee hee hee, it's alright."

Wen Ruohan smiled and shook his head, then walked into the first floor of the second cafeteria with Principal Ding.

Ding Yue found a seat and sat down, while Wen Ruohan went to have breakfast.

Under normal circumstances, if Wen Ruohan and Principal Ding come to the second canteen together, it is Wen Ruohan who is responsible for making breakfast for Principal Ding.

Sometimes Principal Ding got up late and slept a little longer. Often, Wen Ruohan bought Principal Ding breakfast and delivered it to the apartment.

Wen Ruohan felt that sometimes he was not only Principal Ding's office secretary, but also the life secretary more or less, but not much, and finally bought breakfast and milk tea.

However, Wen Ruohan found that Principal Ding had been drinking less milk tea recently.

After arriving at the second cafeteria every morning, I have to drink a cup of hot soy milk instead of hot milk tea.

"Principal Ding, you seem to be drinking less milk tea, but a cup of hot soy milk every morning. Is soy milk better than milk tea?"

Wen Ruohan asked curiously after calling for breakfast.

"Nursing."

Ding Yue replied calmly.

Now Ding Yue has discovered that drinking too much milk tea is not good.

"Let's get down to business." Ding Yue said while eating the soup dumplings.

"Well, Principal Ding, our school's "Super Marines" has accumulated a total of 2.473 billion yuan at the box office as of yesterday, and then successfully applied for the key to extend the show for one month. A box office of 100 million yuan would be a total of 2.573 billion yuan.”

Wen Ruohan began to seriously report the business to Principal Ding.

Because today, Principal Ding is going to give bonuses to the employees of Feiyue Animation Studio, that is, the 3% profit dividend that Principal Ding promised to Feiyue Animation Studio.

It is precisely because of Principal Ding's 3% profit bonus that everyone in Feiyue Animation Studio will work around the clock in three or four months to produce it in time for the National Day with high quality and quantity. The animated film "Super Marines".

The final box office explosion was beyond Ding Yue's imagination.

Ding Yue thought at first that if "Super Marines" had a box office of several hundred million, then he would be able to earn it, and he would eventually share 3% of the profits as an incentive for the members of Feiyue Animation Studio, which is hundreds of millions of dollars. That's all.

Now it's not just a few million.

Because the total box office is 2.573 billion yuan!

Since the application key for "Super Marines" has been delayed for a month, Ding Yue doesn't want to delay it for another month, and then it will take several months to settle the box office before he can get the box office share, and then give it to Feiyue Animation Studio. It would be a little too late for the employees of the company to distribute bonuses.

So Ding Yue asked secretary Wen Ruohan to find out the finance, and then from the money he had now, he first took out the 3% bonus and rewarded it to the employees of Feiyue Animation Studio in recognition of their tireless work day and night. Everyone's hard work and hard work.

"2.573 billion yuan box office, how much revenue can we get?"

Ding Yue raised his head, chewing the fragrant buns in his mouth, and asked.

Ding Yue made a rough calculation before, at least one billion must be there.

"I did a simple calculation last time, and it seems that there is a profit of 1.3 billion, right?" Ding Yue said another sentence before Wen Ruohan reported the data.

"Principal Ding, the 2.573 billion yuan box office will first deduct 5% of the special film fund, and then 3.3% of the tax."

Wen Ruohan replied.

Hearing this, Ding Yue couldn't help feeling distressed.

5% of the film special fund, and 3.3% of the tax, add up to 8.3%.

For the box office of 2.573 billion yuan, this is a lot of money.

"2.573 billion yuan multiplied by 91.7 percent, there is still about 2.359 billion yuan left."

Wen Ruohan continued: "In this 2.359 billion yuan, according to our contracts with theaters and theaters, their share will account for 43%!"

"so tall!"

After Ding Yue heard the words, he couldn't help but take a deep breath.

It seems that the income I calculated before is about 60% of the total box office, which is a bit too much.

These various special film funds, taxes, and the share of cinema lines and cinemas have already been divided.

"President Ding, the proportion of the theater chain and the theater share, because we do not have long-term cooperative relations with the theater chain or major theater companies, and the publisher is also us. This is the first time we have cooperated with the division of accounts, so the academy In terms of line and theater, the share reached a high ratio of 43%.”

Wen Ruohan explained to Principal Ding why the proportion of theaters and theaters is so high.

Under normal circumstances, the box office of a movie is divided between theaters and theaters, ranging from about 38% to 43%.

The specific amount depends on the content of the agreement between the distributor and the theater chain and theater.

Generally speaking, if there is a relationship in more or less circles, or if the distributor has a relationship, then the share of the cinema chain and the cinema will be less than 40%.

Like this "Super Marines" from Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences, since the publisher is Ding Yue's Feiyue Group, Ding Yue's Feiyue Group has not been in the film and television field before, nor has it cooperated with any theater chain or Cinema is related.

Therefore, the box office and theaters of "Super Marines" will share 43% of the proportion.

Ding Yue did a simple calculation, it must be one billion, right?

"If the theater chain divides 43%, it is about 1.014 billion yuan." Wen Ruohan continued: "2.359 billion minus the 1.014 billion, the rest is ours, because the publisher is us Feiyue Media, so the distribution Fang’s distribution commission of about 5%-15% is not deductible, we only need to deduct the cost of distribution and production, then the rest is net profit.”

"What is the final net profit?"

Ding Yue pondered, after subtracting like this, is there still 1.3 billion left in the end?

"In the end, after subtracting the cost and distribution cost from our income, there is still 1.263 billion yuan of income left." Wen Ruohan said excitedly: "Principal Ding, we have made more than 1.2 billion yuan in one movie. Incredible!"

For Wen Ruohan, the income of more than 1.2 billion is simply an astronomical figure. I am afraid that only a courageous person like Principal Ding can earn such a large amount of money!

"1.263 billion..."

Although this number is slightly less than what Ding Yue calculated last time, it is already very good.

Just think.

In this parallel world, which company can make a movie and make a net profit of more than 1.2 billion?

If the investors and directors of those movies in the same period knew that Ding Yue made more than 1.2 billion yuan with a "Super Marines", it is estimated that they would be envious.

The most important thing is that the 1.2 billion film revenue will not need to be divided into Ding Yue's Feiyue Group, because the investment is all invested by Ding Yue.

Unlike other movies, the filmmakers earn hundreds of millions of dollars, and eventually they have to share the money with various investors. After such a round of distribution, the investors will get even less.

Take the movie "Fighting the Demons" in the same period of "Super Marines" as an example, this fantasy movie also exceeded 2 billion yuan at the box office.

After deducting various share-fund taxes and distribution commissions, it will be about 700 million yuan in the hands of the filmmakers.

The 700 million yuan will also be divided between the film party and the investors according to the proportion. After the division, an investor can earn 100 million yuan, which is already very good.

Usually, a movie with an investment of hundreds of millions has definitely not only one investor, but even many investors.

And "Super Marines" has only one investor, that is Ding Yue.

All the cost investments were made by Ding Yue alone. At that time, it was tens of millions, but tens of millions was not much for Ding Yue. Ding Yue was very sure at the time that he could at least earn back the cost. That's why I spent tens of millions to make this "Super Marines".

Now it seems that the rewards are super rich!

The production cost plus the cost of publicity, totaled more than 80 million, and finally earned more than 1.2 billion. "Super Marines" has become a legend in the Xia Guo film industry, and countless directors have a toothache.

"Principal Ding, you promised Feiyue Animation Studio's 3% dividend as a bonus, which is 37.89 million. I have already prepared this money from the financial side."

Wen Ruohan said proudly.

Wen Ruohan has been busy with this matter since Principal Ding ordered it yesterday.

Now that the finance has prepared the money, Principal Ding can give bonuses to the employees of Feiyue Animation Studio at any time.

"Okay, we'll go to Feiyue Animation Studio after breakfast. In addition, have you informed Jiuge and them? All the official members of our Feiyue Animation Studio will be here today."

Ding Yue asked with a smile.

"Yeah, I already informed you last night, I'll tell you again after breakfast, and if we have a celebration dinner, it's already arranged tonight, at the campus-themed hot pot restaurant on the third floor of our second cafeteria. , after eight o'clock at night!"

Wen Ruohan nodded.

"very good!"

Ding Yue has always been very satisfied with the efficiency of secretary Wen Ruohan.

After eating breakfast, Ding Yue took out a tissue and wiped his mouth, then stood up: "Let's go, go to Feiyue animation studio!"

Ding Yue is going to give a bonus of 37.89 million yuan to the employees of his Feiyue animation studio. In the distant Yancheng, there is a producer who is very sad.

As the so-called flood, the flood will die, and the drought will die.

Ding Yue belongs to the party who was killed by the box office revenue, and Ma Wenhai is the party who was killed by the drought!

Because the box office of the sci-fi film "Battlestar" directed by Ma Wenhai was only 547 million yuan in one month.

For the film "Battlestar" at the box office, two words - blood loss!

Because the production cost of "Battlestar" exceeds 100 million, the production cost of more than 100 million, plus publicity and distribution, the cost is even higher.

You must know that the publicity of "Battlestar" before its release is very crazy, all kinds of large-scale, hot searches are bought every day, and I don't know how much money was burned.

But what can be known is that the total box office of 547 million yuan is far from recovering the cost!

The first few days before the release of "Battlestar" was pretty good for Ma Wenhai and investors, but every day that followed, the daily box office of "Battlestar" was pitifully low. "Demon War" is completely incomparable.

Therefore, one month after the release of "Battlestar", because the results were really poor, there was no application for a key extension.

Even if you apply for the extension of the key, it is impossible to earn the subsequent box office, there is absolutely no need for that.

"Old Ma, how much did "Battlestar" lose this time?"

In Ma Wenhai's villa, Ma Wenhai's friend Chen Dachun was chatting with him about the loss.

"With a loss of more than 100 million yuan, my personal investment of 35 million yuan has been lost, alas!"

Ma Wenhai sighed, the cigar in his hand was not fragrant at all.

Since Ma Wenhai is the director and producer of the film "Battlestar", he is also one of the investors. The other investments are all drawn by Ma Wenhai.

Therefore, according to the contract signed by Ma Wenhai and the investors, after the box office of more than 500 million is divided, all the money will be given priority to those investors.

Even so, after more than 500 million box office accounts are divided, there are only less than 200 million, even if all are distributed to the investors, it is not enough.

In other words, all investors in "Battlestar" have lost money.

And the 35 million invested by Ma Wenhai himself was completely lost, and he didn't get a penny back!

"Thirty-five million is not a small amount. The most important thing is, old horse, after this failure, the next time you want to make a movie, it will not be so easy to get investment."

Chen Dachun said regretfully.

"Forget it!"

Ma Wenhai's mood is very complicated now: "Why does the cartoon of Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences have such a high box office?"

Up to now, Ma Wenhai can't figure it out, why! Why!

Ma Wenhai felt resentful that a sci-fi movie that had invested so much in himself had fallen into disrepair on the National Day stall.

"I know, this is the first time you lost money as a director for so many years, but we have to analyze the reasons and try to avoid Waterloo next time. Otherwise, your directorial career, Lao Ma, may be... ."

As a producer, Chen Dachun had to persuade his friends.

"Then tell me, where did I fail this time!" Ma Wenhai took a deep breath, looked at Old Chen and asked.

"As you said just now, the basic box office of the National Day file is so large, and a large part of it was taken away by "Super Marines" and "Fighting Demons", this is indeed a reason, but "Battlestar" "For this film, there is a reason."

Chen Dachun rationally analyzed the reasons for the failure to Ma Wenhai.

"I'm still being robbed of my share!" Ma Wenhai was caught in a strange circle. He believed that his "Battlestar" box office failed because "Super Marines" and "Fighting Demons" both surpassed The film with a box office of 2 billion robbed the basic plate.

Every year, the base plate of the National Day file is so big, and as a result, there are two hugely explosive films, so isn't his "Battlestar" squeezed out of the box office space?

In the Xia Kingdom in this parallel world, it is now 2021, and the highest-grossing movie in the country has only recorded a record of more than 3 billion.

Movies that can exceed 2 billion box office are all popular hits, and those that can exceed 1 billion box office are annual hits!

Ma Wenhai has made several movies with a box office of one billion yuan before, and the last sci-fi movie was a big hit at the box office.

It turned out that the "Battlestar" released this year actually encountered Waterloo!

"Let's not talk about the fact that the box office space was squeezed, the quality of the film itself. In fact, I analyzed it later. Compared with your last film with the same science fiction theme, there is not much progress." Chen Dachun pointed out problem lies in.

I have to say that Chen Dachun's vision is still very unique.

After all, he is one of the well-known directors and producers in China, and he can see the problem with his old friend Ma Wenhai's "Battlestar".

"How can we improve? The special effects have been used very well. Actors, we are also looking for popular traffic stars. I use mature systems for props, dubbing, and sound effects!"

Ma Wenhai frowned and said to Lao Chen.

"To be honest, old horse, you love to use traffic stars, you have to change it." Chen Dachun shook his head and suggested.

"How can you guarantee the basic price without a traffic star?" Ma Wenhai suddenly widened his eyes.

Since entering the new era of the Internet, Ma Wenhai believes that traffic stars are very important. Acting skills can be weakened, but popular star actors are indispensable.

Therefore, several of Ma Wenhai's film works are basically popular stars.

The first few movies are still popular star actors, and the latter are basically pure traffic stars. This year's "Battlestar" is a super popular traffic star. As for acting, does it matter?

For Ma Wenhai's cognition, it is completely unimportant!

However, in Chen Dachun's view at this time, this is a misunderstanding of Lao Ma.

"Old Ma, in recent years, the reputation of traffic stars is basically not good except in the rice circle, and passers-by don't have a good impression of traffic stars."

Chen Dachun had to seriously analyze the current situation for his old friend: "Yes, a few years ago, there were indeed many directors who used traffic stars to make movies, and they made a lot of money, but the times are changing, just me in the past few years. From the observation point of view, the proportion of traffic stars in movie actors is becoming more and more out of balance, that is, it is less and less important. What are the audience watching? Stories, special effects, acting skills. What are traffic stars? Traffic stars may not even be good at making stories!"

Chen Dachun's remarks made Ma Wenhai instantly fall into contemplation.

"Old Chen, what you said..."

Ma Wenhai originally wanted to refute what an old friend said.

But thinking about it carefully, it seems that what Lao Chen said makes sense.

There are still many directors who are using traffic stars to make movies and TV series, but the income is gradually becoming lower and lower.

Ma Wenhai's own "Battlestar" has a huge somersault all of a sudden, it seems that it does mean to use traffic stars to make movies, and it will start to go downhill.

Unless it's a low-cost movie, you might still be able to make some money with traffic stars.

If you want to shoot a high-cost movie with large-scale special effects, and also use traffic stars, it may indeed be out of tune with the movie itself because of the sudden acting skills of the traffic stars and the requirements in the filming process.

"What did you say about my words?" Lao Chen took a sip of the cigar in his hand and asked.

"Tsk... how do you say it, I just thought what you said made some sense." Ma Wenhai frowned tightly and said, "Let's just say we are the starring role of "Battlestar", we have a lot of requirements when filming, Because it is a top traffic star, it is still difficult to serve, and it has also increased our production costs!"

Seeing that old friend Ma Wenhai had such an idea, Chen Dachun showed a smile: "Of course, this is only one of the reasons. As for the control of the whole film, I think you may be because of the actor's problem. And lower, I remember you used to control the rhythm of the movie, but it was very strong!"

"Yes, it does exist."

Ma Wenhai nodded and said softly.

"Old Ma, we made a movie and encountered a Waterloo. It's nothing. As long as we find the reason and solve all the problems, we will make the next movie seriously, and your old Ma's reputation will be restored. into the public eye!"

Chen Dachun encouraged an old friend.

For Ma Wenhai, a loss of 35 million is a lot of money, but it will not make a well-known domestic director like Ma Wenhai down.

The failure of "Battlestar" this time is mainly because the reputation and status of Ma Wenhai, a first-line director, has been a huge challenge.

Slipping is certain.

But because Ma Wenhai had such a good foundation before, the defeat of "Battlestar" this time will not knock him into the ground all of a sudden.

Chen Dachun believes that Lao Ma's next film can still stabilize his status as a well-known domestic first-line director.

"Old Chen, old Chen, I knew that you came to me from Haicheng this time, and it will definitely rekindle my confidence."

Ma Wenhai looked at Chen Dachun who was sitting on the opposite sofa. He was glad that he knew him. His eyes seemed to be deeper than his own.

Many problems that he could not see, Lao Chen can always analyze and summarize.

"Hahaha, who is your old horse, the great director of our Xia country, I still believe in you very much, so old horse, I will be the first to vote for your next movie!"

Chen Dachun raised his head and said with a big smile.

Last year, Chen Dachun's movie made him a lot of money. This year, there is no movie released. Next year, there will be one, but Chen Dachun and another director co-produced it. Due to the official theme, the basic plan can definitely be stabilized.

Therefore, Chen Dachun has money in his hand and can support his old friend Ma Wenhai to fight again!

"Aren't you afraid I'll give you a loss? I lost all my pants this time." Ma Wenhai smiled and joked.

"I'm afraid I won't invest, aren't I?" Chen Dachun smoked a cigar and said, "For various reasons, you didn't have the money to invest in your "Battlestar" at the time, which allowed me to avoid a money-losing investment, then The next one that makes money will never let me vote."

"It's the same sentence I said back then, Lao Chen, if you want to vote, I promise to reserve a place for you!" Ma Wenhai's eyes revealed a look of friendship and affection, looking at Chen Dachun and said.

"Okay, old friend cheer up again. I'm afraid you will be overwhelmed by all kinds of comments on the Internet this time."

Chen Dachun came to Yancheng this time, and specifically asked his old friend Ma Wenhai to talk about his failure this time, because he was worried about his old friend.

After all, since the box office failure of "Battlestar", there have been waves of doubts about Ma Wenhai on the Internet.

A person who has never experienced such a fiasco. If he can't adjust his state in such a situation, it will be miserable.

"Alas, I'm just very sorry. It seems that domestic sci-fi movies are still difficult to make. I opened up a little market for the last one, but this year's one is Waterloo."

Ma Wenhai's condition was stabilized because of the care of his old friends.

But he still regrets that he failed to make a good domestic sci-fi movie.

"I know, you want to make a good domestic sci-fi movie, but this needs to be done little by little, we are not in a hurry."

Chen Dachun understood his old friend very well.

He is different from the type of movies he loves to shoot. He is good at shooting police and gangster suspense, costume detectives and the like.

And old friend Ma Wenhai is bent on making science fiction movies that can be done in China.

His last movie was also a sci-fi movie, and the box office was okay, but the word-of-mouth and ratings were still a long way from the ideal target.

Ma Wenhai never thought that at this moment in Wucheng University of Arts and Sciences in Wucheng, Ding Yue, a former competitor, was also chatting with him.

"So, director Ma Wenhai and director Chen Dachun have a very good relationship?"

On the way to Feiyue Animation Studio, Ding Yue chatted with secretary Wen Ruohan, and they talked about Ma Wenhai, the "destined" opponent of the National Day file.

"Well, Director Chen and Director Ma have a very good relationship. Director Chen Dachun is a master director of police and suspense films in my country, and Director Ma Wenhai is a pioneer of science fiction films in our country."

"Sci-Fi Film Pioneer?"

Hearing Wen Ruohan say this, Ding Yue couldn't help frowning and muttering, "Is this the level?"