Chapter Forty-Three: Creating Legend

  A humble and narrow office interior.

  As the copyright owner of "The Blair Witch", Yi Feiyang is communicating or negotiating with people in charge of several film companies.

  These old foxes, who have been famous in Hollywood for a long time, once they smell the scent of money, can't help but run over to haggle with Yi Feiyang, hoping to get his recognition and release "The Blair Witch" together.

  "Dear Mr. Yi, if you think it's possible, our film company is willing to pay $1 million to buy the copyright of 'The Blair Witch' from you!" a thin white man said.

  "Easy, if you're willing, I'm willing to pay 15 million for the rights!" said another dwarf.

  "Hah, I'm willing to pay up to 20 million! Fellows, it's 20 million! Yi, you can consider my suggestion, as long as you're willing to sign, this 20 million is yours!" A rich guy directly put a box of US dollars on the table.

  Money-eyed fatty Gao Jiabao, had been admiring the beautiful bubbles beside Yi Feiyang, opened the box and looked at the colorful banknotes, he felt like he was dreaming!

  Two hundred million!

  Millionaire!

  Just as everyone was shocked by the big shot, a voice said: "I'm willing to pay $30 million! 30 million US dollars! To buy the copyright of this play!" Along with the sound of speaking, Mike, the manager of Liongate Films, walked in. "Dear Yi, long time no see, do you think my price is reasonable?"

  30 million!

  Oh God!

  This is quite luxurious!

  Mike's boss was delighted, Gutierrez ordered him to buy the rights to "The Blair Witch", so he had no choice but to use money to kill this damn Chinese guy.

  Just thinking about being scolded by the boss because of Yi Feiyang's appearance, Director Mike was furious. He couldn't understand how this damned Chinese guy managed to make a lousy movie so popular, but he knew that since they were at odds with each other, Yi Feiyang would not easily sell him the copyright, so he had no choice but to spend a huge amount of money to buy it down.

  Look, that damned Chinese fatso next to Yi Feiyang is already drooling greedily.

  Yes, who wouldn't be tempted by three million US dollars?!

  Mike finally regained some of his pride.

  But before this feeling spread throughout his body, he saw that extremely detestable guy reveal a smile that made people feel very uncomfortable, and then say a sentence.

  Yi Feiyang said: "Sorry, buddy, 30 million? I won't sell!"

  Boom! Mike's mind was blown away.

  And it's a direct hit!

  "What did you say? Goddamn it, three hundred million, didn't you hear that?!" Mike bellowed like a pig.

  Yi Feiyang leaned in close to his ear and said to the furious Director Mike, "Are you deaf? Don't even mention three million, even if you offer five hundred million, I won't sell this play to you!"

  "Why?!" Mike asked.

  This is what everyone wonders about.

  Yes, why?

  Is there still someone in this world who can't get along with money?!

  "Because I don't like you!"

  Slap in the face!

  Slapped in the face!

  It's really too humiliating!

  Mike's boss was red in the face!

  Everyone else couldn't help but burst out laughing, jeering and teasing, making Mike wish he could dig a hole in the ground to crawl into.

  ……

  Regardless of whether this Mike is a big shot or not, he suffered such a huge insult and yet still managed to think about the consequences.

  If I couldn't get the copyright myself, then Gusta boss would fire me. To complete the task, I endured it, could only endure it!

  "Cough, Mr. Yi, I know there may have been some misunderstandings between us in the past, but now I just want to know, what will it take for you to sell me the copyright of this play?" Manager Mike asked in a low and humble tone.

  "Do you want it?" Yi Feiyang seemed to be fishing, looking at him with disdain.

  "Yes. I want it." Mike felt very cheap at this moment.

  "If you want, it's simple, let your boss Gusta and I talk!"

  "But..."

  "No buts! Fatty, see the guest out!"

  ……

  Mike's supervisor and those small film company managers all left, the originally bustling office became very quiet again.

  Bao, the fatty, was about to go crazy, and he dragged Yifei Yang, saying: "Are you an enemy of money in your previous life? 3 million! As long as you agree, we will be rich!"

  Yi Feiyang gave the infatuated fatty a burst of anger, "Wake up! Three million can make you like this, if you see ten million, won't it excite you to death?!"

  "What does 'one billion' mean?" Fatso blinked his eyes.

  "It means... cast a long line to catch a big fish!" Yi Feiyang smiled mysteriously.

  "One hundred million, thirty million......" Fatso was at war with heaven and earth. "But thirty million can be seen, what about that one hundred million? What if it's a false alarm?"

  Yi Feiyang kicked the fatty with a loud thud, "Get out of here, you cursed mouth!"

  "I'm not being pessimistic, I'm just being cautious!"

  "Don't worry, you are cautious, I am cautious, and maybe someone else is also cautious!"

  ……

  As the boss of Lionsgate, Guste came from a banking background and was always cautious in his dealings because the financial industry could not afford to be even slightly careless. If you wrote one less zero or added an extra decimal point, the potential loss could be tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions...

  For Mike's boss returning empty-handed, Gusta had expected it. But for Yi Feiyang saying that he wouldn't sell even for five million, he felt somewhat unexpected.

  This Chinese person is very interesting!

  The dry financial industry makes Gusta, who is only in his early 40s this year, like some interesting things, such as investing and starting a film company.

  An interesting movie, an interesting person, this will make Gusta feel that he is living a little more easily, a little more truly.

  To be honest, Gustav has a good business sense and a keen sense of smell for the film market. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to develop Lionsgate into one of the new seven major film companies in the future.

  It was precisely this keen sense of smell that allowed him to see the potential value in the small film "The Blair Witch". He wanted it, no matter what method he had to use. However, before that, he was very interested in meeting this strange Chinese person.

  ……

  This is an ultra-luxurious Chinese-style teahouse.

  Gustave always received his guests according to his own principles, that is, to cater to their tastes, satisfy their requirements, and make them feel his sincerity and meticulous care. This is the only way to succeed in business. In short, doing business is actually dealing with people. If you win over the people, the business will be done.

  Gustave never had the habit of looking down on people, because from a young age his father taught him that nothing in this world is insignificant. If you look at something with an inferior gaze, then it will also look back at you with an inferior gaze.

  So Gus saw Yi Feiyang and became very polite and enthusiastic, without any of the airs of a banking big shot or a movie mogul.

  "You must be Mr. Yi, I'm Gusta...I don't know if you like it here, but I love the Chinese tea here. China is a mysterious country, the Silk Road brought us silk, porcelain, and such delicious clear tea...Thank God, thank lovely China!" Gusta smiled warmly, on his face, all you could see was friendliness and kindness.

  Yi Feiyang seemed to have understood why the other party was so successful. This conversation alone made people involuntarily generate a inexplicable sense of fondness for him.

  What a lovely person!

  He's also a terrifying person!

  Looking at his opponent's smile that almost curled up his mustache, Yiyang thought of those lions in the animal world who laughed with their mouths wide open.

  "Let's get straight to the point, Mr. Gusta. What exactly did you want to ask me today?"

  "Haha, Mr. Yi is indeed straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either! This is a check for $30 million, and I want to buy all the movie copyrights in your hands!" Gusta smiled at Yifei Yang with a confident expression.

  Yi Feiyang picked up the check for three million and took a look at it.

  Gusta said: "Don't worry, this check is issued by Citibank. I know you Hong Kong people trust this bank very much. You can cash it in at any time."

  "Three million US dollars may not be a large sum, but I believe it will be of great help to you at this stage...I heard that you borrowed usury to buy the copyright of this book, didn't you? For someone who has dealt with banking matters like me, those are really scary people!"

  Awesome, it's really awesome!

  Yi Feiyang couldn't help but give a thumbs up in praise of this wise and calm movie boss.

  Before coming to negotiate, it's clear that you've already figured out all the details about Yifeiyang. I've already set up a trap, and I'm worried that you won't fall into it obediently?!

  Faced with a temptation of three million US dollars, Yi Feiyang did not directly put the check into his pocket, but returned it instead.

  "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Gusta. Although I need money badly, this amount is neither here nor there to me!"

  Gusta laughed, "I don't quite understand this. You spent 200,000 to buy something, why not take the 3 million and sell it immediately? Do you think this play has even greater value?"

  "Yes!" Yi Feiyang said, "You think I'm greedy or that I'm talking big, but I can tell you very clearly...". Yi Feiyang looked at Gusta with a suppressive gaze and then mysteriously said: "The box office of this play in the future will exceed 100 million!"

  Gusta laughed elegantly, "Dear Mr. Yi, although I'm not familiar with the film industry for a long time, but before that, I also did my homework. Not bad, your 'Blair Witch' is indeed very marketable, especially after you made a series of small moves to heat it up, many people are full of curiosity about it, so I boldly speculate that the box office of this play can break 10 million, and it's because of this that I'm willing to give you 3 million... But now, you actually say its future box office can break 100 million, this really makes me a bit... haha, you know, hard to imagine!"

  Yi Feiyang nodded slightly, "Oh really? I seem to have misspoken..."

  Gustave thought: "This Chinese guy is still salvageable, he knows how to admit his mistakes."

  Before Gu Sui could finish thinking, Yi Feiyang said: "I was wrong earlier, this play is not just going to break 100 million, but it's going to break 200 million!"

  Gustave almost spat out his tea.

  "Cough cough, did I hear that right, dear Yi? What did you just say? Over 200 million? For this play?"

  "Yes, Mr. Gusta, if you don't believe me, we can make a bet..." Yi Feiyang smiled slyly, which made Gusta feel like he saw a fox, and an old one at that.

  "How to gamble?"

  "About these three million..." Yi Feiyang pointed to the check on the table, "If you're willing to add another three million, making it six million in total, and invest it all in promoting this film, making this pseudo-documentary a hot topic across America, making people think it's a true story and eager to see it, then I guarantee that the global box office for this film will definitely exceed 200 million!"

  "Take out 60 million for publicity?" Gusta took a cold breath, knowing that Shimeng Film had just been established for over a year, and most of the films shot were low-cost small productions, with an investment of only tens of millions per film. But now, taking out 60 million to bet on the future of a low-cost small film was really too big a gamble.

  Just as Gusta was still hesitating, Yifei Yang urged: "What are you afraid of? I thought Mr. Gusta was so bold and would definitely take a gamble. We have a song in China called 'Only those who dare to fight will win', I wonder if Mr. Gusta has the courage?"

  Gusta smiled, "Not bad, your bet is a bit big, but it seems that no matter win or lose, you don't have much to lose."

  "How could that be? If this play can't break 200 million, I won't take a single cent! If after investing 60 million in publicity funds, the box office really breaks 100 million, then I demand to get 30% of the profit after the box office split! How about it, is this requirement not excessive?"

  Yi Feiyang's words made Gusta laugh, Fox, this Chinese is a fox.

  "I understand, in fact, it's equivalent to saying that you've already taken the 30 million from me, but then took it out again and splurged it on promoting this play, and then made a bet with me, if the box office exceeds 100 million, we'll split the profits, right?"

  "Wow, Mr. Gusta is really a clever man, he understands as soon as he says it, look, I also have the risk of this bet, the risk of 3 million US dollars!"

  "But I always feel like you're trying to cheat me!"

  "An illusion, this must be your illusion! How could I do that?! I'm not that kind of person! It's embarrassing to come up empty-handed!" Yi Feiyang argued. "In short, this gamble is very interesting, if you agree, then in the future we may create a Hollywood legend! Think about it, friend, a small film with a budget of only $200,000 can create a box office myth of $20 million, for your Liongate Films, it's simply a kind of intangible publicity! From now on, whoever mentions it will say that Mr. Gusta has vision and courage! Say that your Liongate Films has prospects and luck! In short, I'm considering for you, helping you create the golden signboard for your company! But this signboard is not easily created, nor can it be cast with just money, it requires opportunity and boldness; now, the opportunity has come, where's your boldness?"

  If Gu Su wasn't so experienced, he would have almost immediately agreed to Yi Fei Yang's words.

  "What you said is not bad, dear Mr. Yi. This is indeed a good opportunity, but in my opinion, this play wants to break 200 million, it's really a bit of a fantasy. How about this? Three million, I'll add a little more, three million one hundred thousand? Let's just make friends!"

  "Hehe. As I said earlier, I don't need this money, whether it's 3 million or 31 million. What I want is to stand hand in hand with you and create miracles together! Don't you understand what a miracle is? The more impossible something seems, the more worth creating it is, right?"

  Yi Feiyang's unyielding move made Gusta very annoyed, but at the same time, he also developed a slight interest in Yi Feiyang's bold and daring gamble.

  Gustave stroked his chin, where American moguls often sported a goatee, and fell into thought.

  Yi Feiyang didn't disturb him and just quietly drank his tea.

  The person who can create a magnificent career in the film industry must be an ambitious person, unless I'm wrong.

  Indeed, Gusta has ambitions, ambitions to compete with major Hollywood film companies. From banker to filmmaker, Gusta had a conviction, rising steadily, dominating the world.

  Now, is this an opportunity or a challenge?!

  "Alright, dear Yee, I accept your proposal. I will put up six million US dollars to promote 'The Blair Witch', and after that, the copyright of this play belongs to me. Remember, it no longer belongs to you... If the box office exceeds one hundred million, after deducting all expenses and taxes, you can get a 15% share of the profits, only 15%, not 30!"

  As a banker, Gusta was sharp and directly calculated all expenses and taxes, and cut off half of the thirty percent that Yifei Yang proposed, making Yifei Yang, who only wanted to eat dividends, understand that money wasn't easy to make.

  "What if I told you it's not just breaking 100 million, but directly breaking 200 million? Is 15% too low?" Yì Fēi Yáng asked with a smile.

  "Two hundred million? Ha ha, if it really can break two hundred million, I will agree to the 30% requirement you put forward! However, it seems like this is an impossible myth!"

  In response to Gus's "bet", Yifei Yang smiled, after all, it was the first cooperation, and being able to reach such an agreement was already quite good. He stretched out his hand and said: "Cheers to our pleasant cooperation!"

  What a lion you are!

  Gustave went up and said, "Nice doing business with you!"

  You sly fox!