"These are the works that made it into the final selection. Our magazine will organize the final judging, which will be livestreamed in full, and there will be an awards ceremony on-site. All of you are welcome to attend," Fang Ning said.
The judges sat around the conference room table, where the works printed on A4 paper were laid out. Kuala Lumpur Affairs was unanimously recommended for the final selection.
"Hey, what's the background of this Digital Teacher? Why have I never heard of them before?" the judge sent by Goose Factory asked Fang Ning.
Fang Ning said, "I don't know either. Maybe they only recently felt the urge to start writing.
All I can tell you is that they aren't an established author submitting under a pseudonym."
After the preliminary review meeting ended, the Goose Factory judge sought out an editor he knew well and obtained Chen Yuanguang's personal information.
Science Fiction World had his personal information because submissions required an originality commitment, and they needed contact information in case a winner had to be reached later.
"Jenny, there's a good work in this Science Fiction New Star Competition. I think it has strong adaptation potential, and even the potential to become a series IP.
I sent the specific work to you on Enterprise WeChat. Take a look. If you're interested, we can bypass Science Fiction World and sign directly with the author.
After all, Science Fiction World only acquired the publishing rights. We can secure the film and television adaptation rights as well as the IP operation rights."
It was now 2018. The Wandering Earth, which kicked off the first year of Chinese science fiction films, had not yet been released, while Shanghai Fortress, which slammed that door shut again, was even further away.
People understood the concept of film and television rights for science fiction works and knew they were a gold mine, but no one in China had successfully mined it yet.
Jenny was the direct superior of the preliminary review judge sent by Goose Factory. She was the vice president of Goose Factory Video's Content Production Department, responsible for rights operations and content production.
Jenny replied, "All right, I'll take a look first and get back to you afterward."
At eleven that night, Jenny replied, "Sign him. Talk to him directly. You can decide anything under one million yuan yourself."
This was the twilight of the golden age of rights operations, when major companies were still lavish with their money.
"Is this Mr. Chen? I'm Guo Wei, a senior manager in Goose Factory Video's Content Production Department. You can call me David." Guo Wei called Chen Yuanguang the next morning.
Since he no longer faced the pressure of writing four thousand words a day, Chen Yuanguang's schedule had returned to normal. He had already been awake by nine in the morning.
"Hello, David." Chen Yuanguang said, "What can I do for you?"
Guo Wei's expression darkened on the other end of the line. Ever since taking that English name after joining Goose Factory, what he hated most was people calling him David in Chinese. He suppressed his emotions. "Mr. Chen, you participated in the Science Fiction New Star Competition organized by Science Fiction World magazine and submitted a work titled Kuala Lumpur Affairs, correct?"
"Yes."
"Here's the situation: we're very interested in your work for the Science Fiction New Star Competition.
We hope to purchase its film and television rights and reach a long-term cooperation agreement with you.
We hope to turn Kuala Lumpur Affairs into an IP, a series of detective films.
That's our preliminary idea. Would it be convenient for us to meet offline and discuss things further? If you're willing, I can add you on Enterprise WeChat. My verified job title is listed there."
Guo Wei's English name was cheesy, but he handled matters efficiently and thoroughly. Otherwise, he would not have become a senior manager.
Chen Yuanguang said, "Sure."
Free money was still money.
Guo Wei said, "After you approve my friend request on WeChat, send me your exact address. I'll book the nearest flight over."
In Guo Wei's mind, Kuala Lumpur Affairs could absolutely become a series on par with Detective Chinatown.
At five that afternoon, Guo Wei met Chen Yuanguang at a Starbucks in Yintai Square. The moment he saw him, he thought, About one meter eighty, handsome features, refined temperament. Not bad, not bad.
As a senior manager in Goose Factory Video's Content Production Department, Guo Wei had dealt with many celebrities. If he thought someone was handsome, then that person was genuinely handsome.
"Mr. Chen, appearances really can be deceiving. Are you still in school?" Guo Wei asked as he shook Chen Yuanguang's hand.
Chen Yuanguang said, "Yes, at Jiang University right nearby."
Guo Wei became even more interested in the deal. The work could be marketed, and the author himself could be marketed too. They could promote the author along the lines of Han Han, then give him a nominal assistant director credit when the film was made. With a little maneuvering, the publicity hook would be more than enough.
"We hope to purchase the film and television rights to Kuala Lumpur Affairs from you for five hundred thousand yuan. We can guarantee that you will win an award in this Science Fiction New Star Competition.
In addition, under the cooperation agreement, Goose Factory Video will have priority rights regarding the future rights operation of your other works."
Guo Wei did not lower the price because Chen Yuanguang was a student. In his mind, there was no need. It was Goose Factory's money anyway, and any money he saved for Goose Factory would not go into his own pocket.
Reporting a budget of one million and offering five hundred thousand was standard practice, leaving room for the other party to negotiate.
Chen Yuanguang said, "In principle, I'm willing to cooperate with Goose Factory, and the money is negotiable. Five hundred thousand yuan is fine. I have one request. I greatly admire Mr. Michael Levitt, and I hope Goose Factory can arrange a private conversation with Mr. Levitt for me. Half an hour will be enough."
That was Chen Yuanguang's real objective. As an online fiction writer, he had some connection to the rights operation circle. Five hundred thousand yuan was already not a low price, considering he was merely a new writer.
Chen Yuanguang figured that if he signed the rights sale agreement with Goose Factory, Goose Factory would immediately find ways to ensure he won first prize, making their later operations easier.
Guo Wei thought for a long time before remembering who Michael Levitt was. "No problem. Mr. Levitt came entirely as a favor to Goose Factory. I'll discuss it with my colleagues."
His goal had been achieved just like that. It seemed simple enough. He was only one step away from obtaining a handwritten letter of recommendation from a Nobel Prize winner: proving his academic ability in front of the man.
But was that difficult for someone who had received Knowledge Download from four hundred years in the future?
"Then send me the specific contract when the time comes. I'll have a lawyer review it. If there are no problems, we'll sign," Chen Yuanguang said.
The lawyer was from the law firm partnered with the foreign company where Chen Yuanguang's mother worked. Before coming here, Chen Yuanguang had roughly explained the matter to his mother, and she had suggested having a lawyer review the contract to prevent him from being cheated.
Guo Wei said, "No problem. Also, I wonder whether you'd be interested in signing with Goose Factory?
We can package you as a celebrity author and promote you across all platforms—Weibo, WeChat Official Accounts, and so on."
Half a year ago, Chen Yuanguang would have agreed without hesitation, but now he had to think it over.
"I don't have the energy to manage readers, much less specifically run a Weibo account. Besides, can a novella of only sixty thousand words like Kuala Lumpur Affairs really be enough to package me as a celebrity author?"
Before you continue