diymy Chapter 92's release was a huge hit and a hot commodity.
Chapter 92's release was a huge hit and a hot commodity.
Chapter 91's release was a huge hit and a hot commodity.
November 20, 2008, 11 p.m., Light Chaser Pictures North America headquarters in Los Angeles.
David paced back and forth in the 30-square-meter conference room, glancing at the digital clock on the wall with each round of walking, his eyes befitting a soon-to-be father awaiting news of his girlfriend's impending delivery.
"11:27 — 33 minutes until the end of the first game —" he muttered to himself, his fingers unconsciously tugging at his already loosened tie.
On the sofa, Jiang Yu was leisurely flipping through the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter.
He even brewed a cup of tea, the aroma filling the conference room, a stark contrast to David's anxious demeanor.
"Boss, are you really not planning to stay here and wait for the data?" David asked for the nth time, his voice tinged with aggrievedness. "This is our first film that we're truly managing! Simultaneous release in 3600 theaters! Aren't you even a little bit nervous?"
Jiang Yu looked up, took a sip of tea, and said, "David, I've already answered you. I'm going home to sleep."
"Sleeping?!" David's voice rose eight octaves. "Today's the release date of Twilight! You should be sitting here with me, staring at the computer screen, refreshing the data website every five minutes, your palms sweating with tension—that's the proper producer posture!"
Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh: "That's your pose, not mine. Besides,"
He pointed to David's tie. "You're so nervous you've twisted your tie into a pretzel. I don't need to add to the tension."
David looked down and realized that he had unconsciously twisted his $500 Armani tie into a rag.
He sighed, ripped off his tie completely, and threw it on the table: "Boss, your composure makes me feel no sense of accomplishment."
Why?
"Because according to the Hollywood script, at this point we should be tense and anxious together, and then excitedly hug each other, pop champagne, and be filled with emotion after the data comes out."
David sat in the chair opposite Jiang Yu. "But the way you are makes me feel like a one-man show actor."
Jiang Yu closed the magazine and stood up: "David, I'm asking you, we did everything we were supposed to do for this movie, right?"
"right."
"The trailer was well-received, and the preview screenings received good ratings, right?"
"right."
"Then what's there to worry about?" Jiang Yu picked up his coat. "The market will provide the answer, and I believe the answer will be good. So, I'm going home to get a good night's sleep so I can be refreshed and ready to receive the good news tomorrow."
David opened his mouth, but then waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, go back and get your beauty sleep. I'll stay here and keep watch until the data comes out at midnight. I need to know as soon as possible."
Jiang Yu walked to the door and glanced back at David.
This former Paramount executive is now like a high school student waiting for his college entrance exam results, both expectant and fearful.
"David," Jiang Yu said gently, "relax. Even if the data isn't as good as expected, the sky won't fall. Besides—"
He smiled mysteriously. "I have a feeling you'll have trouble sleeping tonight, not because of anxiety, but because of excitement."
The elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out David's puzzled expression.
Jiang Yu stood alone in the elevator, looking at his reflection in the mirrored wall.
At 26, while most people in Hollywood are still serving coffee to big producers, he has already overseen several A-list productions.
As the elevator descended, he suddenly remembered the Twilight documentary he had watched in his previous life.
On the night of the film's premiere, executives at Summit Entertainment stayed up all night, waiting in their offices for the data.
When the box office figures for the first day came out, the entire company was in an uproar; some people were even moved to tears.
In this life, the protagonist of this scene is David.
That's fine. Let the professionals do what they're good at. He just needs to stay calm.
His black Jeep Wrangler sat quietly in the parking lot.
Jiang Yu got into the driver's seat but didn't start the engine immediately. Instead, he checked his phone for a text message from Jiang Xuerou: "Mr. Jiang, the domestic media have already prepared their press releases, and we're just waiting for the box office figures! Our receptionist said she'll be staying up all night at the office waiting for news, like waiting for the Spring Festival Gala!"
Jiang Yu smiled and replied, "Let everyone go home and get some sleep. The data will come out tomorrow. Staying up late is bad for your skin; young ladies should take care of their appearance."
Start the car and slowly drive out of the parking lot.
Los Angeles remains bustling at night, though it is more tranquil than during the day.
Jiang Yu turned on the car stereo and played Chopin's Nocturne. He needed some calming music to balance his potentially overly excited mood tonight.
While waiting at a red light, he glanced at a movie theater on the side of the street.
The giant Twilight poster was particularly eye-catching under the lights, and several young girls were taking pictures in front of it.
"It's already started," Jiang Yu said softly.
When the light turned green, he stepped on the gas and merged into the traffic.
On his way home, he passed four cinemas, and in each one he saw posters for "Twilight" and long queues of people.
This reminded him of the first time he saw this movie in his previous life, in 2008, in Los Angeles, when his then-girlfriend dragged him to see it.
At the time, he thought the plot was childish, but he had to admit that Robert Pattinson's face truly deserved the title of "stunningly handsome".
In this life, he became the boss of this movie.
Fate is truly wondrous.
On the afternoon of November 21, Jiang Yu's biological clock woke him up on time.
He didn't check his phone immediately as David had expected, but followed his usual routine: getting up, washing up, and then going to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Today's lunch is fried eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit salad, accompanied by freshly ground coffee.
He even turned on the midday news—CNN.
The anchor is giving a serious report on the financial crisis: "—The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its decline yesterday, falling 2.3%, marking its eighth consecutive week of weakness. Economists predict that the U.S. economy may be heading into its worst recession since the Great Depression. The White House spokesperson stated—"
Jiang Yu switched channels and switched to entertainment news.
He laughed as soon as the image appeared.
The news anchor exclaimed excitedly, "Last night, Hollywood was swept up in a youth storm! 'Twilight' premiered simultaneously in 3600 theaters across North America, and its midnight screenings alone grossed an astonishing $8.2 million, setting a new record for November midnight screenings in 2008! Let's take a look at the scene—"
The scene shifts to the AMC theater in Times Square, New York, where a large number of young viewers are still queuing to enter in the early hours of the morning.
A reporter randomly interviewed several girls who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old: "I've already read the novel five times! I absolutely have to see the premiere of the movie!"
"Robert Pattinson is so handsome! Just that look in his eyes in the trailer, I'm dead!"
"All the girls in our class made a pact to come watch together; anyone who doesn't is not a true sister!"
The reporter also interviewed a pair of audience members who looked like a mother and daughter.
The mother looked helpless: "My daughter insisted on dragging me here, saying this is the most important moment of her life. I read the novel and thought—well, the writing is alright."
The daughter chimed in, "Mom! Edward is perfect! You don't understand!"
Jiang Yu smiled and turned off the TV.
It seems that the fervor surrounding the youth market is the same in any time and place.
He started eating lunch and breakfast at the same time, and his phone was unusually quiet.
Given David's personality, if the data were exploding, his phone would probably be ringing off the hook by now.
Jiang Yu thought about it and understood.
David probably wanted to wait for more complete data to come out so he could give him a "big surprise".
It's like a child hiding something good and waiting until the most crucial moment to show it off.
That's fine, let's go along with his desire to perform.
After finishing his meal, Jiang Yu went to his study and turned on his computer.
The JD.com financing agreement sent by Chen Jingming is already in my inbox. It's a full fifty-page PDF file titled "JD.com Series B Financing Agreement Draft (Confidential)".
At eight o'clock in the evening, Jiang Yu made himself a cup of tea, his second cup of the day. He felt he needed more caffeine, but tea was healthier.
He had just opened the document and read two pages when his phone finally rang.
It's David.
Jiang Yu answered the phone, and before he could speak, he heard a strange sound coming from the other end—it sounded like someone was screaming, or like a chicken being choked.
"Boss!!!"
David's voice was almost cracking with excitement, trembling noticeably, "Did you see the news?! Did you see it?!"
Jiang Yu held the phone a little further away to avoid damaging his eardrums: "David, calm down. Speak slowly."
"Calm down?! How can I calm down?!"
David was practically roaring, "Twilight's opening day box office in North America was $3587 million! $3587 million!"
Ten thousand! Boss, do you even know what that means?!
Jiang Yu leaned back in his chair and smiled: "I know. It ranked 14th in the all-time box office on its opening day in 2008."
There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone.
A few seconds later, David's voice came again, this time more normal, but still excited: "You—you already know?"
"The news is on," Jiang Yu said. "I just watched TV."
"Then why are you so calm?!" David became excited again. "3587 million! Our cost was only 3500 million! We almost broke even in just one day! This is practically a money printing machine! Even a money printing machine can't do this fast!"
Jiang Yu could picture David looking like this: probably gesturing wildly in his office, his tie nowhere to be found, and his hair a mess.
"Summit Entertainment predicts it will break 70 million in its opening weekend!" David continued, "But while the reviews are polarized—those middle-aged critics are blasting it, calling it 'childish,' 'pretentious,' and 'garbage for teenagers'—but! Young people love it! It has a 9.2 rating on IMDb among women aged 18-24! 9.2!"
Jiang Yu took a sip of tea: "Hmm, as expected. How about the special effects?"
"This is the best!" David exclaimed excitedly. "All the media, even the harshest critic, The New Yorker, admitted that our special effects are top-notch! They said the vampire's speed effects and the werewolf's transformation effects have reached new heights for this type of film! Light & Shadow Digital has really shone this time!"
"That's good." Jiang Yu nodded.
He walked to the window and looked at the Los Angeles night view outside.
The palm trees swayed in the breeze; it was typical California weather.
The fact that Twilight revealed this outcome, which he had predicted long ago, still left people with a subtle feeling when it actually happened.
It's like having your lottery numbers told to you in advance, and then watching the numbers come out one by one.
There was no startling plow, but there was a sense of satisfaction, like "I knew it."
In its previous life, this film series raked in $33 billion worldwide, made Kristen Stewart and Robert Paddinga stars, and sparked a craze for teen fantasy romance films.
Worldwide tried to replicate its success, from The Vampire Diaries to Beautiful Creatures to Warm Bodies; but no one has ever reached its heights.
In this lifetime, he came into contact with the publisher and author Stephanie Meyer in 2006 when the novel had just become popular.
Jiang Meng acquired the film and television adaptation rights to the entire series for $270 million, a price that seemed high at the time but is now considered a bargain.
Summit Entertainment was somewhat hesitant at the time, feeling that spending $3500 million on a teen romance film was too risky.
Jiang Mengjianyi promised to acquire 50% of the shares of Guangying Digital, a subsidiary of Guangying Digital, with full copyright, early release rights, and special effects services worth US$1200 million, and a peak cash investment of US$1800 million, accounting for 50%.
At the time, many independent production companies in the industry ridiculed it, saying that Chasing Light and Shadow was "trading special effects services for shares, which is equivalent to trading potatoes for steak."
Now, the potatoes have grown into golden potatoes.
"Boss, are you listening?" David's voice pulled Jiang Meng back to reality.
"I'm listening."
"What do we need to do now? Your media schedule is booked until next week! Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and The New York Times all want to interview you! The media is calling like crazy! The company receptionist has already answered dozens of calls!"
Jiang Meng thought for a moment: "Okay, today you handle the media first, and unify the narrative; emphasize that this is a team effort, thank you to Summit Entertainment for their cooperation, and thank you to director Catherine Hardwicke and all the actors for their contributions. For the lighting section, focus on highlighting our special effects technology and the IP."
"Understood! What about the follow-up collaboration? You've hinted that you want to talk about the second movie sooner than expected. Rob Friedman called me three times this morning, and each time he said we need to start the second movie immediately! Immediately!"
"Tell them to wait until the first week's master data comes in before we talk again."
Jiang Meng said, "The better the data, the stronger our bargaining power. Remember, we now hold complete copyright and core creative rights, so the advantage is on our side. But we need to maintain a good attitude and show that we are willing to continue cooperating."
"Great! I'll go right now!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu stood still.
My phone started vibrating incessantly, with text messages and email notifications coming one after another, like a chaotic symphony.
He glanced at the screen; his message count had reached 99+.
Jiang Xuerou: "President Jiang! It's out! Absolutely out! All the domestic media are reporting on it! The receptionist said her voice is hoarse from answering so many calls!"
Ye Ning: "President Jiang, I just saw the news! It's amazing! Should Konda discuss merchandise collaborations in advance? I think we can do themed cinemas, themed merchandise, and even themed hotels!"
Lu Zheng: "Congratulations, President Jiang! Another victory for 'Twilight'! I'm in Hengdian right now, and all the film crews here are talking about 'Twilight,' saying you guys have an amazing eye for talent!"
Even Jackie Chan sent a message: "Brother Jiang, you're amazing! I just finished working out and saw the news. Hollywood is saying you guys struck gold! Teach me next time we meet, how do you spot projects so accurately?"
Jiang Meng replied to each of her thank-you messages in a consistent and concise style: "Thank you, it's all thanks to the team." "You won the prize, you're lucky." "It was a pleasure working with you."
When he replied to the twentieth message, he turned off the phone notification sound.
The next day, the North American company that chased the light and shadow had transformed the vegetable market.
No, it's even more bustling than a vegetable market.
David had just hung up the phone with Jiang Yu when the office door was pushed open.
Assistant Emily burst in carrying a stack of documents, her face a mixture of excitement and despair.
"David! Seven more media outlets have requested interviews! Two topi shows have invited me! And—let me count—two production companies have expressed interest in collaborating with me!"
David slumped in his chair: "Schedule, schedule everything. Remember, don't reply to any cooperation intentions yet, wait for President Jiang's decision."
"And what about these flowers?" Emily pointed to the office area outside, where the flowers had been transformed, with thousands of congratulatory flower baskets stretching from the doorway all the way to the end of the corridor.
"Distribute them to the employees, one pot for each person to take home," David said energetically. "Wait, who sent that biggest bouquet of roses?"
Emily checked the card: "It's Rob Friedman from Summit Entertainment. The card says 'To the best partner, looking forward to even more miracles.'"
3
David laughed: "That old fox, he's quick on his feet. Put the roses in my office; it's a token of our business acumen."
After Emily left, David turned on his computer and started browsing the news.
The Hollywood Reporter's headline: "Twilight's stunning opening day opens up a new blue ocean in the teen market."
Variety's headline was even more direct: "3587 Kang! Chasing Light and Shadow Proves His Sharp Eye Once Again."
The New York Times' commentary was relatively restrained: "How can a film underestimated by critics win over young audiences?"
David read through the list one by one, his smile growing wider and wider.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, a reporter interviewed several theater managers: "I've never seen anything like this before." A manager at an AMC theater in Hollywood said, "After the midnight showing, some customers came in crying, not because they were sad, but because they were so excited. They discussed it for an hour at the theater entrance, and then bought tickets for the early morning showing the next day. In my twenty years of running theaters, this is the first time I've seen this kind of frenzy."
Another person said, "Our theater prepared 500 movie posters, and they were all snapped up in half an hour. A customer asked if she could buy one of the posters on our wall for $500. I told her it was not for sale, and she almost cried."
David found it hilarious.
He took a picture frame from his work drawer; it contained a photo of him and Jiang Meng signing a contract with Dingfeng Entertainment last year.
In the photo, Jiang Yu has a calm expression, while he himself is laughing like a fool.
At the time, he was worried that the project was too risky, but now he realizes he was really cowardly.
"Ding-dong—" The email notification sound.
David clicked on the link; it was a formal collaboration invitation from Summit Entertainment, inviting Light Chaser Animation to hold a second round of collaboration negotiations next week to discuss matters related to "Twilight 2".
The attachment also includes a preliminary proposal: a budget of 6000 US dollars, a filming period of six months, and a target release date of November 2009.
"That's really efficient," David muttered, replying with a polite email that he would pass on the message to Jiang Meng and arranging a preliminary meeting time.
Just as I finished sending the message, the phone rang again.
This time it was Mark, a vice president of Warner Bros., and an old friend of David's.
"David! Gong Li! You guys hit the jackpot again!" Mark's voice was full of envy. "Hey, is your company hiring? I'm open to switching jobs!"
David laughed: "Come on, Mark, you make three hundred crowns a year at Warner, and you want to come to our little company?"
"A small project? Who in all of Hollywood dares to call Light Chaser an insignificant project these days?" Mark said. "Seriously, do you guys have any other projects on hand? Warner Bros. is interested in collaborating; the terms are negotiable."
"Of course there are projects, but they all depend on President Jiang's approval," David said. "How about this, once I'm done with this busy period, let's have a meal together and discuss it in detail."
"It's a deal!"
After hanging up the phone, David leaned back in his chair and suddenly felt a little unreal.
Six months ago, Light & Shadow was still a newcomer in Hollywood. Although it made a bit of a fool of itself because of "Iron Man", it was ultimately a "technology service provider".
Now, Chasing Light is a "content creator and investor with a keen eye".
This transformation took only one movie.
He recalled what Qi Jiangmeng once said: "In Hollywood, you either need talent or vision. If we have both, we can change the game."
At the time, he thought the boss was just making empty promises. Now, not only have the promises arrived, but they're also being presented to him in a very real way. At the headquarters of Huayi Brothers in Beijing, Wang Zhongjun's office was filled with smoke.
Wang Zhongjun was looking at the news on his computer screen when the cigar in his hand burned to the very end, scalding his fingers before he turned on the stove.
"357 million US dollars on the first day — equivalent to 2.5 million RMB —" he muttered to himself, stubbing out his cigar in the ashtray. "That's equivalent to the total domestic box office of one of our blockbuster movies in a single day."
Wang Zhonglei sat opposite him, his face also grim: "The key point is that this is just North American sales. If it really reaches $4 million globally, that's nearly 30 billion RMB. Our Huayi's annual sales target for this year is only $5 million, and we might not even reach that."
"What a difference," Wang Zhongjun sighed, a sigh that was deep and drawn out. "We're still fighting tooth and nail for domestic market share, battling with Enlight Media today, and Bona Film Group tomorrow. Meanwhile, they're going straight to Hollywood to earn dollars. What do you call that? A dimensional reduction attack."
"Brother, should we go to Hollywood and invest?" Wang Zhonglei suggested. "With the financial crisis, Hollywood is short of money, it's a great opportunity to buy at rock-bottom prices."
"Invest in what? Invest in what?" Wang Zhongjun smiled wryly. "Do we have Jiang Meng's eye for talent? Iron Man."
"When it became a hit, we thought it was just good luck, given Marvel's strong IP. Now 'Twilight' is a hit too, is that still luck? An adaptation of an obscure teen novel, with a budget of only 3500, almost broke even on its first day. To bet on it twice, that takes skill."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the hazy sky over Beijing: "This Jiang Meng is no ordinary person. 26 years old, self-made, a special effects entrepreneur, now he's both an investor and a producer. The key is, he makes every move precisely and steadily. A person like that, either a friend or—"
"What do you want?"
"Either stay far away and avoid them, don't be their enemy." Wang Zhongjun turned around, "Make arrangements, then contact Jiang Xuerou again, and tell her we want to cooperate. Be sincere, and the terms can be generous. We need to leverage their resources."
"Over there in Nabona—"
"Yu Dong is definitely thinking the same thing," Wang Zhongjun said. "So we need to act quickly. Here's what we'll do: you go to Los Angeles yourself, saying you're checking out the market, and visit Jiang Meng while you're at it. Bring a gift, but not too expensive, or we'll seem tacky. Bring something cultured, like cultural and creative products from a museum, to show we have good taste."
Wang Zhonglei nodded: "Understood. I'll go prepare right away."
At the same time, Wang Changtian of Enlight Media was also staring at the news in his office, his expression complex.
"He guessed right again," Wang Changtian said to his assistant. "Twilight—a teen romance film like that, we probably wouldn't even watch in China. But it was a huge hit in North America. What does that show? It shows we don't understand the international market."
The assistant cautiously asked, "Mr. Wang, shouldn't we also look into overseas markets?"
"Research is important, but the key is people," Wang Changtian said. "Why can Jiang Meng see this difference? Because he truly understands Hollywood and the international market. And we—"
He shook his head. "We're still making Chinese films with a Chinese mindset, always thinking about educating the audience and conveying values. Others don't think that way. They simply and directly meet the audience's needs. If a young person wants romantic fantasies, I'll give them romantic fantasies; if a teenager wants a heroic dream, I'll give them a heroic dream. It's simple."
"Should we—"
"Yes, of course we should get in touch," Wang Changtian said. "Next time Jiang Meng returns to China, arrange a meeting as soon as possible. This kind of person is worth getting to know better. By the way, I heard he likes drinking tea? Get that old Pu'er tea cake I collected ready, and give it to him next time."
November 24th, Monday morning.
Hollywood is busier than usual.
The official opening weekend box office figures for "Twilight" will be released at 10:00 AM today, and all media outlets and film companies are holding their breath in anticipation.
At 9:50, the conference room of the North American company, Chasing Light & Shadow, was already full of people.
David wore a new suit, his hair neatly combed, looking like a general about to go into battle.
There were three computers in front of him, each displaying data from a different website.
There was also a bottle of champagne next to him, chilled in an ice bucket; this was what he had prepared for the celebration. Although Jiang Meng said there was no need for such formalities, David felt that such moments must have a sense of ceremony.
At 9:58, the meeting room was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.
At 9:59, David's palms began to sweat.
At 10:00 AM sharp, all three computers refreshed simultaneously.
Data has arrived: 7055 million US dollars.
The meeting room was silent for a few seconds, then erupted in cheers.
"yeah--!"
"marvelous!"
"We did a great job!"
David stared at the numbers on the screen, his eyes starting to sting.
He picked up his phone and dialed Jiang Yu's number.
When the call connected, it was quiet on Jiang Meng's end.
"Boss," David's voice was a little hoarse, "the first week's master data is here. 7055 Kang."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Jiang Yu's calm voice came through: "Very good. Thank you for your hard work."
"That's it?" David was a little disappointed. "Boss, 7055 is the ugliest house in North America in the first week of 2008! Aren't you excited?"
Jiang Meng smiled: "I'm so happy, David. Really. I slept really well last night and felt great this morning, so my mood is quite stable. Unlike some people, I heard they stayed up for three nights in a row?"
David blushed and said, "I—I was just doing my job!"
"Okay, just kidding," Jiang Meng said. "Today will definitely be busy, you handle it. Remember to keep a low profile, thank the team, and look forward to the future."
"clear!"
After hanging up the phone, David looked at the excited employees in the conference room and clapped his hands: "Alright, celebrate for five minutes, then return to your seats. Emily, send the data to all the media. Jack, prepare the press release. Lisa, contact Summit Entertainment to confirm the joint press conference this afternoon—"
Five minutes later, the conference room was half empty.
David sat in his chair and opened a news website.
Sure enough, the whole of Hollywood was in an uproar.
Variety's headline: "7055 Kang! Twilight's main character debuts at number four of the year, the teen market is a blue ocean."
The Hollywood Reporter: "The Light Chaser project has once again created a miracle, and its low-cost, high-return model has given Hollywood pause for thought."
This time, The New York Times didn't hold back: "No matter how much the world criticizes, Twilight has proven with its own box office that the audience is the ultimate judge."
David read through the list one by one, his mood growing increasingly pleasant.
He checked the comments section and saw some interesting messages: "I'm a 42-year-old middle-aged man, and my son dragged me to see it. To be honest, the plot was a bit childish, but my son cried buckets, so it was worth the price."
"Edward is so handsome! I'm going to watch it ten times!"
"As a fan of the original work, I'm very satisfied with the film's faithfulness to the source material. The special effects are really amazing, and the vampire fight scene was incredibly cool!"
"What kind of amazing company is Light Chaser Animation? Iron Man, Twilight, what's next?"
Just then, Rob Friedman called.
"David! Did you see that? 7055 Kang! My God!" Rob's voice was as excited as a child's. "We've made history! The best result in the history of Summit Entertainment!"
"Gongli, Robert," David said with a smile, "this is a team success."
"Of course it's the team! Most importantly, it's vision! Jiang's vision!" Rob said. "See you at the press conference this afternoon!"
We're going to have a proper celebration! I've already had my assistant book the best restaurant in Beverly Hills; tonight we're drinking until we drop!
"Robert, President Jiang might not attend the dinner party —"
"It'll be just the two of us! We have to celebrate! That's it, see you this afternoon!"
David hung up the phone and rubbed his temples.
It seems I can't escape this drinking session tonight.
He opened his email and saw more collaboration offers.
This time, it wasn't just Hollywood companies; production companies from Europe and Asia also sent emails.
One of the letters came from Shochiku Co., Ltd. of Japan, inquiring about the possibility of publishing Twilight in Japan and collaborating on merchandise.
Another letter came from South Korea's CJ Entertainment, who wanted to discuss remake rights; they wanted to make a Korean version of "Twilight".
There was even a letter from Bollywood in India, saying they wanted to buy the adaptation rights and make an Indian song and dance version.
David found it hilarious and forwarded the emails to Jiang Meng, adding the comment: "Boss, everyone in the world wants a piece of the pie."
A few minutes later, Jiang Meng replied: "Let it sit for now, no rush. The price will be higher when the second movie is released."
Simple, calm, as always.
David shook his head, smiled, and closed his email.
Having a boss like this is both lucky and challenging.
Fortunately, Okamoto is clear-headed and cannot walk; the challenge is that you can never keep up with his pace.
On the evening of November 25th, in the banquet hall of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The celebration party for "Twilight" was held here, and the scene was even more lively than expected.
Not only the lead actors and production team came, but also most of the big names in Hollywood; some came to offer their congratulations, some came to check things out, and some came simply to ride the wave of popularity.
Jiang Meng's arrival caused a small commotion.
This usually low-profile founder of Light Chaser Animation is now one of the people Hollywood most wants to know.
Rob Friedman immediately rushed over and gave him a big hug: "Jiang! My brother! Our lucky charm!"
Jiang Meng was a little out of breath from being hugged so tightly, so she patted Robert's back and said, "Robert, be gentle, my bones are fragile."
Robertson's eyes lit up: "Jiang, did you know there were quite a few people asking me about you today? Warner,..."
Disney, Fox—even Amazon are asking! You're the hottest guy in Hollywood right now!
"That's an exaggeration," Jiang Meng smiled. "The film is a team effort."
"That's true, but you're the one in charge." Rob lowered his voice. "We'll discuss the second part tomorrow. As long as the terms are reasonable, Summit will fully cooperate."
"Okay, let's talk tomorrow."
Just then, a middle-aged scribe dressed in a magnificent suit came into the furnace.
David whispered to Jiang Meng, "This is Millicent Carter, a senior agent at CAA, and one of the most powerful people in Hollywood."
Miriam Carter walked up to Jiang Meng and extended her hand: "Mr. Jiang, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Miriam Carter from the CAA."
Jiang Meng shook hands with her: "Hello, Mr. Carter."
"Just call me Millie," Millie smiled. "I'd like to speak with you on behalf of CAA about a collaboration. We have some excellent clients—directors, actors, screenwriters—and I believe we can create a great partnership with Light Chaser Animation."
"Of course, we would be very willing to cooperate with CAA," Jiang Meng said politely. "We can have David connect with your team to discuss the specifics."
"Great!" Millie Arnet handed over the grotesque film. "Looking forward to working with you."
After she left, several more groups of people arrived.
Jiang Meng maintained a polite but appropriate distance, shaking hands and smiling as appropriate, without making any specific promises.
David watched from the sidelines, secretly admiring the situation. In this kind of occasion, few people would get carried away, become arrogant, or lose their heads.
Jiang Yu remained calm throughout, as if attending a regular business cocktail party.
After the celebration banquet, Jiang Meng and David stood waiting at the hotel entrance.
"Boss, how are you feeling today?" David asked.
"It's okay," Jiang Meng said, "but my face is stiff from smiling."
David laughed: "This is just the beginning. You'll be even busier when '2012' comes out."
"So I'm going to enjoy a moment of peace now." Jiang Meng looked at the night sky. "David, do you think I'd have enough money if I retired now?"
David was startled: "Boss, you're only 26! Retirement what?!"
Jiang Meng laughed: "Just kidding. You're here, let's go."
Before heading upstairs, he glanced back at the hotel.
Brightly lit and filled with laughter, this is Hollywood at night, and also the night of the sleazy.
He said that all of this was temporary.
Movies will be taken off the screens, the hype will fade, and people will chase the next hot topic.
The only constant is that good stories will always find a market.
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