Chapter 527: Chapter 518: Let Me Down This Shot!
What disagreement could Wang Fan possibly have? He completely agrees. Heās been pushed to the brink. Heās sold his house, his car, anything he could. Not only him, even the assistant director by his side has started taking money out from home to fill the gap.
Hundreds of thousands, even millions, may seem like a lot, but when it comes to making a film, itās just a drop in the bucket. And thatās not mentioning the fact that theyāve been shamelessly asking industry friends to cameo for free.
Otherwise, they would have given up long ago.
At this point, whoever is willing to invest would be welcomed. Even if they are a nobody, it doesnāt matter. After all, how much is face really worth?
But Su Qingās words quickly rekindled a fierce desire in his eyes, like a shot of adrenaline.
"Well, President Su, let me toast to you!"
"Please... I canāt drink that well!"
"Then have some juice, Iāll drink up, you do as you please."
Saying this, more than half a glass of liquor went down his throat, leaving me dumbfounded. My goodness, what a good drinker this one is.
"Congratulations, Brother Wang, on securing the investment!"
"Indeed, Old Wang, congratulations!"
"Come, come, everyone, letās toast Brother Su, what a generous boss!"
The matter was settled. Although the initial cooperation hadnāt worked out, there was finally some good news. Even if it had nothing to do with everyone else, they had to show an attitude.
After all, in this room, an investment of a small target amount was just agreed upon.
At this time, the looks that Xu Jing, Xia Wanning, and other young actresses gave Su Qing were different. Young, wealthy, and generous ā the way he threw money around was impressively handsome.
Those male artists in the entertainment industry, called male gods and puppy dogs by the young girls, drew countless fans with their singing and dancing on stage but were still far behind this man who casually tossed out a hundred million.
Wealthy men are attractive, and those who spend money are even more so. Those who spend it handsomely are rare indeed.
Even the more mature Li Ranran and Ding Sheng had bright eyes at this moment, though the oldest Gao Yuan remained calm but was still surprised.
Although they all secretly doubted Wang Fanās film, since Su Qing had invested, they naturally wouldnāt undermine it.
Itās like looking at a house that doesnāt appeal to you and your friend buys it anyway. You may opt not to buy it yourself, but you wouldnāt badmouth it in front of them, itās the same principle.
Since it was confirmed that he was investing, the conversation naturally shifted to this topic within the private room.
Wang Fan, as the director, naturally knew what story he was trying to film. After a brief introduction, he explained his current difficulties, which essentially boiled down to money.
"Well, President Su..."
"Just call me by my name, no need to be so formal. How about this: youāre older than me, so Iāll just call you Brother Wang, okay?" Su Qing waved his hand dismissively.
Being respectfully called President Su by a man in his forties was something he wasnāt used to. Even though he was indeed in a high position as an investor, they would need to work with each other down the line, so building a good relationship was important.
"Alright then, Iāll take the liberty. Brother Su it is, hehe."
Su Qing didnāt think there was anything inappropriate about it. He doesnāt own a company, so whatās with the President title? After all, itās just a cooperative relationship between them; one provides the funds, the other the effort, and then they split the profits. Itās not like oneās supporting the other.
"Uh... actually, I did a rough calculation in my head just now. If we keep it tight, we probably wonāt need a full hundred million, maybe sixty or seventy million should do. Of course, Iām not entirely certain, given that itās science fiction; too many parts are costly. You see..."
As he spoke, Wang Fan felt a bit embarrassed. Initially, he had secured some investment and thought he could go ahead with filming, only to find the money run out halfway, giving him a firsthand look at the so-called money pit that is filmmaking, thus shaking his confidence.
"No worries. If the money runs short, I can always add more. Just make sure itās spent wisely," Su Qing laughed.
Although he can provide funding, it doesnāt mean letting someone squander it recklessly. Artists have a common flaw ā the relentless pursuit of perfection.
This can lead to endless spending, so a word of caution early on was necessary.
"Rest assured, I can promise that Iāll spend every penny where it counts. Honestly, not much was spent on actorsā fees; some were even my friends who worked for free. The money is best spent on props and special effects," Wang Fan assured, patting his chest.
Through narration, Su Qing knew the other party was sincere and had no suspicions. Such an experience ensured there would be no primadonnas or those bathing in mineral water in this crew.
"Alright then. By the way, Brother Nan, are you interested in investing a little?" Su Qing asked after nodding.
Hearing this, everyone present felt a bit awkward, but it soon passed.
"With you as the big boss, thereās really no need for me to get involved. Wouldnāt want you saying Iām stealing your business," Gao Yuan laughed.
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The other four women playfully bantered as they politely declined, though Tang Nan seemed a bit tempted.
Of course, she wasnāt really thinking of investing; rather, she had noticed some extraordinary qualities in Su Qing, like during the last stock market surge.
Before it happened, he had borrowed money from Shen Yi, and right before her eyes, the stock prices did skyrocket, making him a fortune.
Though she profited a bit from it, that money amounted to less than a sip of soup. It left her feeling she didnāt catch the hot trend.
This time, Su Qing extended another olive branch, and she began to waver. Could this film really be a hit?
The more she thought about it, the more she believed it possible. However, after careful deliberation, she decided to give up.
"Go ahead, they say your stock predictions are impressive, youāve become a Stock God. This time, letās see how good your eye is for film investments," Tang Nan said.
To this, Su Qing chuckled and shook his head. He didnāt expect them to be optimistic, then said with a grin, "If this film turns out to be a hit, donāt say I didnāt invite you all to join in. After all, I think investments in films and stocks are quite similar, and I have high hopes for Director Wangās film."
Upon hearing this, everyone present naturally didnāt take it seriously. Even Tang Nan thought of him as a kid who had suddenly struck it rich but had nowhere to spend it, just showing off.
But everyone here was unrelated, and while Tang Nan, as a friend, could offer a reminder, that was the extent of it. None of the others would give any warning, as there were no ties between them.
After the dinner, no one was happier than Wang Fan. Finally, someone was willing to invest; his crew could continue filming, and he was most grateful to Su Qing for extending a helping hand.
At the table, toasts were continuous, leading to quite the buzz from drinking.
"Well, Su... Brother, itās embarrassing to admit, but Iām almost out of money... perhaps you could..."
With everything mostly discussed, he naturally wanted to finalize it quickly and get the funds in hand. Otherwise, there might be a change of heart after a nightās sleep.
The main issue was he truly had no money left. Without new funds coming in, the financing would break down this week, leaving not even enough for wages or even food for the crew.
Seeing this, Su Qing couldnāt help but chuckle. He understood what the other party was thinking but didnāt mind. Since he already decided to invest, he wouldnāt do things halfway.
"How about this, Brother, tomorrow, prepare the necessary materials and come to my girlfriendās company. Weāll get things done. Iāll have Brother Nan send you the address, howās that?"
Though he had plenty of money, he wasnāt foolish. How could such a large sum just be given away without reason? It was essential to follow proper procedures.
Although he didnāt understand these things, Shen Yi, as a company owner, definitely knew what to do. With Tang Nan, someone from the circle, there too, it wouldnāt be a problem.
Heās a loner, true, but he had people who understood the industry around him. He couldnāt be easily fooled, and that was enough.
"Alright then, let me toast you again, no, Iāll spin for you!"
"No, no, thatās liquor!"
Everyone: ...
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