Co-Owned Copyright

Shen Shanden planned to first license the script to Shenden Culture in his personal capacity, adding a layer of "author's rights" so that the copyright would remain firmly in his hands.

Then, through Shenden Culture, Shen Shanden would invest 3 million yuan as project funding, after which China Film Group would join and sign an Investment Cooperation Agreement.

The key terms included China Film Group investing 4 million yuan and explicitly recognizing Shenden Culture as the lead producer and copyright holder.

Shen Shanden also respected China Film Group's interests.

As a co-producer and principal investor, China Film Group would have screen credit as one of the co-producers.

It would hold priority distribution rights in mainland China, ensuring China Film Group's core demand and value by leveraging its powerful distribution network.

It would receive a 40% share of proceeds based on its investment ratio, including box office revenue shares, downstream product development, television broadcasts, audiovisual rights, and more.

It would have a certain degree of participation in major decisions, such as budget overruns or changes to the core creative team, but this could not undermine Shenden Culture's copyright ownership or final decision-making authority.

"Does China Film Group have to thank you for giving us distribution rights?"

After hearing him out, Liao Yun found it utterly absurd.

Then he suddenly understood.

"No wonder you spent your own money first and weren't in a hurry to bring us in. You'd been planning this all along."

With that thought, Liao Yun's gaze toward Shen Shanden subtly changed.

Anyone who took Shen Shanden for a naive college student, or a newcomer to the film industry, would probably get taken to the cleaners.

He was absolutely a little fox.

Liao Yun said bluntly, "Your demands are excessive, and the way you do things is underhanded. You used China Film Group's name to pull in all sorts of people, roped in Wu Jing too, and then, after getting Wu Jing on board, turned around and came to negotiate with us."

Shen Shanden hurriedly explained, "My demands are perfectly reasonable. I'm the project's initiator. This helps me maintain complete control over the project, and it also helps align the project spiritually with the studio director's strategy."

Liao Yun was speechless. "Then how are you going to convince the other investors? Wu Jing has put in 1 million, and there's still a 2 million shortfall. Other investors won't understand why the copyright should belong to a newly established little company rather than the more reliable China Film Group."

Shen Shanden did not think it would matter. "This doesn't affect China Film Group's ability to provide support such as coordinating filming locations, policy support, and some post-production resources."

"Besides, Wu Jing is contributing across the board. Added to the salaries for his four roles, that amounts to 2 million. I've already reassessed the The Grand Director project. It's now a 20 million yuan project."

"China Film Group invests 4 million and gets a 40% stake. Before the film has even been made, its value has already doubled. That's a massive profit."

Liao Yun sucked in a sharp breath!

He could not understand how Shen Shanden could say such things with a straight face.

So China Film Group would not be the lead producer, yet it would still have to do the work of the lead producer.

And after doing all that work, it was supposed to say thank you, because joining this project meant making a huge profit.

Liao Yun pressed his lips together. "Even so, it will be difficult to convince the people within the group. Why should we hold the largest investment share yet not have the position of lead producer?"

Shen Shanden smiled. "As long as it makes money. China Film Group's returns have already doubled."

Liao Yun was exhausted. "Still no. The The Grand Director project is a Blockbuster Strategy pilot personally approved by the studio director. The copyright must remain with China Film Group. At most, you can license it as the author and share the copyright with us."

Shen Shanden said, "Deal!"

It was unrealistic to make China Film Group give up the lead producer position. Shen Shanden was a complete newcomer, but co-owned copyright was still within the range he could accept.

Ask the sky, bargain on the ground.

Liao Yun was even more exhausted. "..."

That afternoon.

Han Sanping called Shen Shanden. This project ranked among his priorities, second only to several major projects.

"Why did you renegotiate?" Han Sanping asked directly.

Shen Shanden said, "I have to maintain one hundred percent control over the project. Lately, I haven't even dared go to China Film Group. Quite a few people are eyeing a share of my project."

"Fine, I understand." Han Sanping sounded helpless.

The good news was that Shen Shanden did not have the student-like naivety Han Sanping had worried about, and he could withstand the siege of competing interest groups.

The bad news was that Shen Shanden was far too cunning.

Overall, Han Sanping was still quite satisfied. "How is the The Grand Director project going? I heard Wu Jing has joined too?"

Shen Shanden spoke about Wu Jing's true nature as a filmmaker and explained that Wu Jing had joined without pay, giving Han Sanping a pleasant surprise.

In less than a week, the project had already taken shape.

Shen Shanden's execution was indeed impressive, and the signal he had conveyed was excellent as well.

Wu Jing had shifted his career to Hong Kong Island and was now returning to the mainland, showing that Chinese Cinema's environment was improving.

At Monday's studio affairs meeting.

Han Sanping suddenly singled him out for praise. "Xiao Shen's The Grand Director project has been handled very professionally. He built the framework himself."

Then he turned to his deputy. "I hear the studio has been quite lively lately. Keep an eye on things. The Spring Festival is approaching, so make sure production safety is maintained."

That afternoon.

Shen Shanden formally signed the agreement with China Film Group.

The project would still be affiliated with China Film Group, but Shen Shanden would first license the copyright of The Grand Director to Shenden Culture, his personal company. Shenden Culture would then license it to China Film Group, and both parties would jointly hold the copyright.

Any sequel production could only begin with the unanimous agreement of both parties.

The publicity and distribution terms were also refined. Shenden Culture would be responsible for online marketing and would hold a position in publicity and distribution.

With the cooperation finalized with China Film Group and China Film Group backing him, Shen Shanden no longer needed to apply for an individual-film permit. China Film Group itself had production qualifications.

China Film Group's representative, Zhang Nengshou, formally joined the crew.

The The Grand Director project was officially underway.

Zhang Nengshou was the deputy section chief of the Production Department at Beijing Film Studio and an experienced Production Director.

"Just call me Old Zhang. I'm here to help manage daily odds and ends, and the studio director also instructed me to cooperate with you properly."

Old Zhang did not beat around the bush. He openly stated that he had come under orders and would not compete with Shen Shanden for anything.

That kid Chen Hui had run headfirst into the gun barrel and received disciplinary action. If not for his prominent family background and people pleading on his behalf, he would have suffered an even worse outcome.

Han Sanping's level of importance attached to this project, and the regard he held for Shen Shanden, exceeded everyone's expectations.

From the looks of it, it was still strictly official business. Otherwise, he would not have been so blatant.

Shen Shanden smiled. "Brother Zhang, the crew needs a seasoned and steady senior like you to help out. With you joining our project, the studio director's requirements will definitely be met."

After just a brief exchange, Zhang Nengshou felt something absurd. Shen Shanden gave him the impression of someone like himself, someone who had spent twenty or thirty years steeped in a state-owned company.

Shen Shanden did not waste any time and convened the first formal production meeting.

Four people attended: Shen Shanden, Zhou Qifeng, Wu Jing, and China Film Group's representative, Zhang Nengshou.

Shen Shanden got straight to the point. "The Grand Director is a costume blockbuster registered under China Film Group, a pilot attempt at industrial upgrading under the Blockbuster Strategy. It is meant to break through the old shackles and dare to tackle difficult problems head-on."

"I deeply admire the spirit of democracy. From now on, we'll vote by show of hands. Of course, democracy alone affects efficiency, so there must also be centralization. I therefore have veto power on major matters."

Zhang Nengshou counted the people present. Vote on what, exactly?

Zhang Nengshou felt that Chen Hui might have been lucky not to get involved. Against Shen Shanden, a privileged kid like him would only get played to death.

"Next, we will push forward across the board: content creation, the literary script, the shooting script, actor scripts, the Costume, Makeup, and Props team, the action design team, location scouting, casting preparations, and so on. All preparatory work will officially begin."

After the meeting.

Zhang Nengshou took the initiative and said, "We're still a little short on investment. Director Shen, call me big brother. If you need anything, just say the word. I can introduce you to some investors."

Shen Shanden said, "I was actually hoping to discuss something with you, Brother Zhang. I plan to hold a launch ceremony first, and I need China Film Group's help coordinating offline media. It will promote the film, but it will also introduce the mission carried by The Grand Director, so the public can recognize what the studio director has done for Chinese Cinema. The studio director may not say it, but we can't leave it undone."

The moment Zhang Nengshou heard this, he nodded repeatedly. "I'll speak with the publicity department. We'll cooperate fully!"

Before the launch ceremony.

Shen Shanden called Ma Youde over. When it came to film, he did not want to make the same mistakes he had made in music.