CHAPTER 327: CHAPTER 323: WANTING A BED EVERYWHERE (SEEKING MONTHLY VOTES)

"Old Shi, you should be more flexible occasionally. You can seek more help from Bern and China Film and draw them a big picture. Their resources can be utilized."

Qi Hao was quite satisfied with Shi Feng; he just felt Shi was too conservative.

Like Zhanqi Laiden, who particularly enjoys taking unconventional approaches.

To deal with Zhao Yanzi, he went straight to digging up Ming Guang Association’s background, it’s like using a cannon to kill mosquitoes, without fearing to get himself in trouble.

They can turn black into white and make the dead come alive.

"I understand, I’m particularly familiar with them now."

Shi Feng was also learning and growing.

The most correct thing he did in his life was to follow a boss who rides the wave.

Actually, there are many similar cases in other industries.

Some people’s work ability isn’t necessarily outstanding, but they joined a good company, and after a few years, the company went public, and as pioneers, they received a large share of options incentives, and such things.

This is the legendary fortune.

Don’t mind that the regular salary might only be a few thousand yuan; throwing away stocks directly sells hundreds of thousands or millions, directly crossing the class to financial freedom.

"Those Years, Uncle, Heartbreak 33 Days, Let the Bullets Fly, and there’s also ’Hello! Mr. Tree’, our tasks for the second half of the year are quite heavy..."

Qi Hao didn’t expect to have accumulated so many.

"There aren’t any decent projects next year in the first half of the year, oh right... there’s Kuiba."

Yang Liu remembered this.

Everyone else fell silent, just as the boss said, don’t expect much commercial value from it.

This Kuiba is better off not existing.

As for the newly invested Great Saint and Nezha, don’t expect to see them for three to five years.

"No matter, if there’s more work, everyone will just have to work harder; give everyone more bonuses; if there’s less work, everyone will rest more, we won’t cut salaries anyway."

Qi Hao didn’t intend to pump up everyone with intensity.

Balance is key.

"If there’s less work, then no bonuses, did everyone hear that?"

Old Tian casually added a remark.

The same meaning, different expressions, truly has a different effect.

Daring to challenge the boss in high-level meetings, only he has the qualification.

"You want to slack off and still get a bonus, dream on," Qi Hao was not polite at all, then moved to the next topic, "What about the matters regarding video sites, any opinions?"

Content websites, video sites, these are all planned.

Regarding content websites, Donghao Venture Capital negotiated "Demon Qi" from Shanda.

"Demon Qi" was originally just a platform for anime exchange, Yaoqi Jun shared his collection of domestic and foreign comics on the website to communicate with fellow enthusiasts.

Simply put, it’s a distribution (piracy) website.

In June 2009, with sponsorship from Shanda Literature, Demon Qi began commercial operations.

The development over these two years...

it’s just so-so.

Donghao Venture Capital took over part of the shares from Shanda, then acquired others, fully operating this comic website.

Additionally, Donghao Venture Capital plans to negotiate another novel website invested by Shanda.

However, progress is not very smooth.

Because Shanda has invested heavily in this website, with high sunk costs, they don’t want to give up for the time being.

But, reluctance is only temporary.

As long as the money is in place, there is nothing they won’t give up, especially for a company like Shanda, which is declining and cutting off various side businesses.

Despite acquiring so many companies, Qi Hao’s financial pressure wasn’t tight.

Most of his cash and profit were invested in films, but who still uses their own money for investment these days?

Moreover, regardless of whether the company’s books have money, you have to deal with banks.

Bank loan profits can sometimes be very low, even lower than the interest rate on bank deposits.

It means you deposit a hundred million in the bank, then take a loan of a hundred million from the bank, and you can actually make money from the bank.

Additionally, borrowing from banks can enhance your credit rating.

Borrowing money, repaying it, over and over, the credit rating gradually improves.

Companies that never borrow from banks and only deposit money are not favored by banks.

Furthermore, own funds imply high tax costs, higher than bank loan interest rates, and loan interest can be included in production costs for tax relief during repayment.

In any case, corporate financial planning is very complicated.

When Qi Hao mentioned video websites, everyone perked up.

"There’s something we might need to pay attention to, a new policy..."

Old Tian presented the relevant information via a projector.

The newly established Huaxia Film Copyright Association (Film Copyright Association) announced plans to trial and promote the "Domestic Film Internet Cafe Digital Distribution Platform" nationwide, where watching movies online, in internet cafes, and on long-distance buses would be charged.

Soon after, Thunder and Ku6 Net both stated they would implement the fee model.

This means the era of universal piracy is coming to an end.

Although netizens expressed fierce protests, "I’d rather get a virus than pay", "resolutely resisting charges", it couldn’t stop the industry development trend under policy support.

First, the film market is burgeoning and thriving.

Breaking box office records repeatedly, three hundred million, four hundred million, five hundred million, emerging one after another.

Secondly, the nation begins to emphasize the position of films in cultural defense.

Hollywood blockbusters sell well all over the world.

The benefits they bring to Miguo are definitely not limited to commercial gains.

There are certainly issues of cultural invasion as well.

Whether it’s anime or film.

In the last couple of years, one policy after another has been introduced.

All aimed at revitalizing one’s own cultural industry.

"This is a good thing..."

As a film company, Qi Hao is certainly pleased with such policies being introduced.

Now with a box office of 500 million, if online and offline piracy get hit hard, the box office could very likely double or even multiply several times.

"The cost to operate a video website will become extremely high, and compared to that, advertising fees might just be a drop in the ocean."

Old Tian feels a headache coming on.

If tens of millions aren’t considered big money, and billions aren’t either, then what about tens of billions?

Fighting piracy is a double-edged sword.

It brings explosive growth potential for the film industry, but also skyrockets the operating costs of video websites by a hundredfold.

A large number of video websites face closure.

"Then cooperate with Penguin, they give us money, and we’ll engage in deep cooperation in whatever area with them."

Qi Hao offered an idea.

Whether they can cooperate, and how to cooperate, still depends on the people below to discuss.

Qi Hao provides his requirements and bottom lines from his side.

Negotiate benefits around the bottom line.

As the upstream content producer, as long as video websites aren’t monopolized by any one consortium, he’s not worried about selling copyrights.

What he fights for are more industry leadership rights.

The meeting was nearly over when Qi Hao remembered something:

"Director Qi Jian has stomach cancer. I called to offer my condolences, they said there’s no need for any help..."

This is considered a personal matter.

But Qi Hao bringing it up here clearly doesn’t intend to deal with it as a personal matter.

"Is it serious?" Old Tian asked.

He knows the relationship between Qi Hao and Qi Jian, both having the surname Qi, which is very rare in the entertainment industry.

Still, they don’t have any family ties.

The main thing is Qi Hao took the Best Actor award for "Heavenly Dog" directed by Qi Jian.

This creates a bond of goodwill between them.

"It’s in the late stage, not easy to treat, and he’s still working..."

Qi Hao offered some advice, but it was of no use.

Qi Jian’s attitude is since it’s untreatable anyway, living those extra couple of years doesn’t make much sense.

Let everything just take its course.

"Are you thinking about taking care of his son?"

Bringing up such a matter, Old Tian somewhat understood Qi Hao’s intentions.

"Right, his son graduated from Beijing Film Academy last year. If he’s capable, give him a chance. If not, just give him some opportunities to learn."

He didn’t ask for help, but Qi Hao thinks he can do a favor.

After all, the world is full of interpersonal relationships.

It’s common for things to cool down once people leave.

Many times, things cool down before people even leave.

"What if his son is unable to be helped?"

Yang Liu asked curiously, Qi Hao is quite particular about things.

This favor is one Qi Hao could also choose not to acknowledge.

Back when Qi Hao took up this film, it was to save the situation temporarily, and actually, Qi Jian should thank Qi Hao.

As for winning the Best Actor, firstly it was luck, secondly Qi Hao indeed acted well.

"If he can’t be helped, that’s it. Just his bad luck."

Qi Hao made a casual remark.

It’s not necessarily about making Qi Jian’s son famous.

Of course, his casual remark could definitely be a turning point in a destiny for an actor.

"Oh, right, the company needs to purchase a nanny car for me, one with strong safety features."

Qi Hao wants a nanny car so he can enter training spaces inside it.

If nights aren’t convenient, he’ll have to cut into daytime hours.

It’s alright to take a nap in the director’s lounge chair, but it’s not realistic to sleep; anyone might come over and tap you.

And if they find you won’t wake up from tapping, you might end up calling an ambulance.

"Uh, still, pay attention to the impact, don’t feel like getting a bed everywhere just because you have a girlfriend..."

Old Tian said it offhandedly.

As the boss, Qi Hao’s little requests absolutely need to be fulfilled.