FYN Chapter 58: The Flower of Wealth and Prosperity
Chapter 58: The Flower of Wealth and Prosperity
On the morning of the first Friday of July, the air conditioning in the China World Trade Center was turned up high, keeping out the heat from outside.
Jiang Yu had just finished a video conference with Wu Na in Los Angeles to discuss a technical bottleneck encountered by Light and Shadow Digital in the early visual development of "Inception." He was rubbing his slightly throbbing temples when his assistant, Xiao Liao, knocked on the door and came in.
"President Jiang, General Manager Ye Ning of Wanda Cinemas, and General Manager Lu Zheng of Starlight Brilliant Films, they've come to visit with a young lady. They said they'd like to get to know you. They didn't make an appointment, so..." Xiao Liao's voice carried a hint of caution.
After all, these two, especially Ye Ning, who represents Wanda Cinemas, are currently the undisputed leader among private cinema chains in China. Although Starlight Cinemas was established not long ago, it is rumored to have a mysterious background and abundant funds.
Jiang Yu paused slightly, and almost instantly, three corresponding names and images appeared in his mind.
Ye Ning, whom I had dealt with many times in my previous life, from a tough guy at Wanda Cinemas to the later CEO of Huayi Brothers, is shrewd, pragmatic, and flexible, a typical business-oriented executive.
Lu Zheng... This name is associated with an even more illustrious yet extremely low-profile family. Rather than being Jing Tian's sugar daddy or boyfriend, he is more like the family's chief steward, responsible for protecting him and managing his entertainment industry affairs. He is low-key but his influence should not be underestimated.
As for the young lady, needless to say, she is Jing Tian, who just entered the Beijing Film Academy last year and has already begun to show her talent.
"Please ask them to come to meeting room number two. I'll be right there." Jiang Yu stood up and straightened his shirt cuffs.
An interesting combination of visitors, Wanda's distribution channels, Starlight's capital, plus a newcomer eagerly awaiting a major project to promote... the intentions are as clear as if they were written all over their faces.
Meeting room number two is more business-like than Jiang Yu's own office, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, a heavy solid wood conference table, and abstract art paintings on the walls.
When Jiang Yu went in, the three people inside had already stood up.
Leading the group was Ye Ning, around forty years old, dressed in a well-fitting dark suit, with a warm smile and the shrewdness and competence honed from years of fighting on the front lines.
"Mr. Jiang! I apologize for the intrusion! I am Ye Ning from Wanda Cinemas. I have long admired your name!" He took the initiative to shake hands with a firm grip.
"Mr. Ye, you're too kind. Welcome, welcome. Wanda Cinemas is a household name." Jiang Yu responded with a smile, his handshake steady.
Standing half a step behind Ye Ning was Lu Zheng.
He looked a few years younger than Ye Ning, wearing a tailored suit with a more casual and fashionable cut. He had a calm and reserved demeanor and a gentle smile.
"President Jiang, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Lu Zheng from Starlight Brilliant." His handshake was firm but polite.
"Hello, Mr. Lu." Jiang Yu nodded.
He sensed that Lu Zheng was sizing him up, but his gaze wasn't like Ye Ning's, which directly assessed commercial value.
Finally, there was Jing Tian, the girl standing next to Lu Zheng, who was slightly curious yet trying her best to remain dignified.
She was indeed very young, with fair skin, delicate features, and soft hair draped over her shoulders. She wore a perfectly sweet smile, and it was clear that she had taken great care in her appearance.
Compared to her later appearance when she was criticized as a "resource-backed actress," she looked more youthful now, with a hint of student-like innocence in her eyes.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang, I am Jing Tian, a student at the Beijing Film Academy. I met you at the audition for 'The Witch' last year."
Her voice was clear and bright, with a touch of a young girl's crispness. She introduced herself very politely and even gave a slight bow after she finished speaking.
"Ms. Jing Tian, hello, please have a seat." Jiang Yu gestured for everyone to sit down. Xiao Liao quickly served tea.
The greetings begin with the weather and traffic; this is the standard opening for Chinese social interactions.
Ye Ning was clearly a master at controlling the situation, and his words were full of admiration for Jiang Yu and Light Chaser Pictures.
"Mr. Jiang, to be honest, you're now a leading figure in the domestic film industry!"
Ye Ning picked up his teacup, his tone exaggerated yet sincere, "That move with 'Iron Man' was brilliant! It made Chinese filmmakers proud! And 'Avatar' directed by Cameron, I heard you were a big help at a crucial moment? That vision, that boldness, we old guys can only look up to you in the dust!"
Lu Zheng smiled and nodded in agreement: "Indeed. Light Chaser Pictures' model is very innovative, spanning China and the United States, balancing investment and core technology, and it's progressing very steadily and with great foresight. Although we at Starlight Pictures are newcomers, we've also been studying and learning from them."
Jiang Yu modestly replied, "President Ye and President Lu, you flatter me. We were lucky to have caught some opportunities, but it wouldn't have been possible without the team's hard work. Wanda Cinemas' expansion over the years has truly made the market bigger, and we content creators wouldn't have been able to do without your terminal channels' support. Although Starlight Brilliant has only been established for a short time, its future potential is limitless."
The businessmen flattered each other, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Jing Tian sat obediently next to Lu Zheng, listening quietly most of the time, occasionally showing a shy or serious expression when Ye Ning or Lu Zheng mentioned her.
Her eyes remained filled with curiosity, and she would occasionally steal glances at President Jiang, who was younger than she had imagined, yet could already speak to the two people beside her on equal terms.
The conversation quickly shifted from general compliments to more specific areas.
Ye Ning lamented the current pressure on domestic films to secure screenings, implying that Wanda Cinemas would provide maximum support if there were any good projects.
Lu Zhengze more subtly mentioned that in addition to funding, Starlight Entertainment also has some distribution and public relations resources that can be shared.
After chatting for about twenty minutes, Ye Ning finally revealed his true intentions and steered the conversation toward Jing Tian with a smile.
"Speaking of which, although Jing Tian is a newcomer, she's very talented and hardworking. The music EP directed by Ning Hao last year was quite well-received. This young lady is focused on acting, but what she lacks is a good platform and opportunities. Mr. Jiang, you have a keen eye for projects and high production standards. I wonder if you have any suitable roles for a newcomer like Jing Tian, where she can learn and hone her skills?"
Lu Zheng took over, his tone more sincere: "President Jiang, Jing Tian is our artist, and naturally we hope she can have a good future. What we value more is long-term and professional cooperation. If there are suitable projects, Starlight Brilliant is willing to fully cooperate with Light Chaser Pictures in investment, production, and even post-production promotion. We don't need leading roles; even supporting roles with few scenes but highlights are valuable experiences, as long as we can learn something in a production team overseen by President Jiang."
Jing Tian also looked up at the opportune moment, his eyes earnestly fixed on Jiang Yu. "President Jiang, I really love acting and am willing to work hard to learn. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely give it my all and won't let you down."
Jiang Yu understood perfectly. This was a typical resource exchange negotiation: Wanda would provide distribution channels and screen time support, while Starlight Pictures would provide funding and resources in exchange for Jing Tian's performance opportunities in Light Chaser Pictures projects, especially those that might be international, in order to quickly enhance her status and popularity.
What they value is Light Chaser Animation's established reputation both in Hollywood and domestically.
To be fair, Jing Tian's physical appearance was absolutely top-notch, and it's no wonder that he was jokingly called "the epitome of wealth and beauty" in later generations.
Her acting skills were indeed immature in her early years, but she was not hopeless and improved in some of her later works.
More importantly, the capital and cinema power she represents are something no film company can ignore.
Jiang Yu's impression of Jing Tian was not bad. In his limited interactions with her in his previous life, he felt that she was straightforward and unpretentious, the kind of person who was well protected but also willing to work hard.
However, Jiang Yu does not intend to make a commitment immediately.
"President Ye, President Lu, Miss Jing Tian's qualifications are indeed outstanding, and she also has potential."
Jiang Yu carefully chose his words, his tone gentle yet with a clear sense of boundaries, "The projects that Light Chaser Pictures currently has, such as 'The Witch,' have already been scheduled for release; 'Black Swan' even had a high degree of autonomy in casting by the director. We do have some new projects in the early stages of development, currently still in the script and creative polishing phase, and haven't reached the casting stage yet."
"However," Jiang Yu changed the subject, "Chasing Light Pictures has always maintained an open and cooperative attitude. So, if we have suitable projects in the future that require new actors, or if there are suitable business cooperation opportunities, I will definitely have President Yang contact you both as soon as possible. Ms. Jing Tian's information can also be left with us and added to our database of new actors. We will notify you if there are suitable audition opportunities in the future."
The subtext is: cooperation is negotiable, but how it's used must be done according to my rules.
Ye Ning, a seasoned veteran, immediately understood and laughed heartily: "We're relieved to hear Mr. Jiang say that! No rush, no rush, good projects are developed through hard work. We're just here to make our connections, to get to know this talented young man, Mr. Jiang. With more interaction, opportunities will naturally come!"
He knew he couldn't get the role immediately, but establishing direct contact and making an impression was already the first step to success.
Lu Zheng smiled and nodded, "President Jiang is right. Professional matters should be handled according to professional procedures. We welcome President Jiang and President Yang to visit and provide guidance to our company at any time. Jing Tian, why don't you thank President Jiang?"
Jing Tian quickly thanked him again, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
Although she was well protected, she was not naive and knew that these things couldn't be rushed.