"I’ve finished reading. Director Kong, you truly live up to your reputation as Xiangjiang’s top screenwriter. The script is fantastic!" Shen Yibin praised sincerely. The script was undeniably well-written; even a layman like him could tell it was brilliant.
"That’s good, that’s very good." Director Kong let out a long sigh of relief. Since there were no issues with the script, the biggest obstacle was out of the way. All that remained was to negotiate the terms. Director Kong was currently at a disadvantage. Many film companies wanted to cast Hah’Er, and he knew that several had already been trying to find ways to contact Shen Yibin. But there was only one panda available to star in a movie. So, he had to abandon his usual negotiation tactics and get straight to the point, laying out his conditions. "Last time, I offered a salary of thirty million, but after thinking it over, that was a bit paltry. I’m now raising the offer to one hundred million, plus twenty percent of the gross profit."
’Damn, that’s a massive offer! I remember Leonard’s asking price for a film is only twenty million US Dollars plus a twenty percent share, right? Hah’Er’s debut salary is already almost on par with Leonard’s. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before he surpasses Robert Downey Jr.’
Shen Yibin could barely stop himself from agreeing on the spot. If he signed this contract, he wouldn’t have to worry about buying and raising Maphario anymore! With a hundred million, he could buy so many storefronts on this street. It was enough to build a luxurious indoor garden for Hah’Er and Maphario. He could do more than just add a pool—he’d have enough to create an entire indoor landscape.
After taking a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart, Shen Yibin finally said slowly, "Director Kong, you’re being very sincere, and you’ve taken such good care of Hah’Er in the past. If Hah’Er is going to be in a movie, you’ll definitely be my first consideration."
"Bin, if you have any other concerns, please don’t hesitate to voice them. I’ll agree to anything within my power." Director Kong knew there was a reason Shen Yibin was speaking this way. Since he was willing to put up so much capital, he had to secure his goal. Therefore, he made a promise. He planned to fund this movie himself, giving him complete control and the authority to make such a guarantee.
"We don’t need to discuss the money anymore. Director Kong, your offer is so generous that it would be unreasonable for me to ask for more." Money was certainly important, but Hah’Er’s health and happiness were what mattered most. "That’s not my concern. It’s Hah’Er. I know filmmaking is exhausting, and I don’t want to work him to the bone."
"You can rest assured on that front. I’ve worked with animals in my films before and have experience dealing with international animal welfare organizations," Director Kong quickly assured him. "They have detailed contracts covering these matters, with precise stipulations for an animal’s daily working hours, rest environment, diet and health, and psychological well-being. I’ll have someone send a copy over later, and we can revise it based on Hah’Er’s specific needs. We’ll lock all these points down in the contract to guarantee there won’t be any issues."
"I’ve also cut as many scenes as possible from the script that might negatively impact Hah’Er’s health. Any action sequences will be handled in post-production, so Hah’Er won’t have to do anything dangerous. Besides, what film crew would let a panda take that kind of risk?" From the very beginning with the script, he had repeatedly minimized any potential dangers for Hah’Er, and now he was offering a detailed, binding contract. Director Kong had truly prepared for every eventuality.
"I’m clear on the script now," Shen Yibin nodded and continued. "But there’s also the matter of promotion. I know that for a blockbuster like this, the main cast and crew often have to travel all over for large-scale promotional tours. That’s also very exhausting, and I don’t think Hah’Er can handle such a heavy workload..." Sometimes, promotional events were even more tiring than the actual filming.
"Yes, that’s a given. Hah’Er is the biggest draw for this film, so it wouldn’t be right if he never made an appearance. My plan is for Hah’Er to participate in promotions in the key box-office markets: Capital City, Shanghai, Xiangjiang, and of course, Yunzhong City. We’ll have other cast and crew members handle the rest. Also, when we start drafting the promotional schedule, I’ll be sure to space out the events in these locations so it won’t be too strenuous for Hah’Er," Director Kong offered his solution. "We can write this into the contract as well."
"Oh, right. If it gets released in the US, Japan, and Europe, we’ll probably need Hah’Er to make a few more appearances. However, I’ll do my best to limit them to no more than three. And he can use my private jet for all travel. I’ll have the plane modified ahead of time to make sure he’s as comfortable as possible." Director Kong was aiming for the international box office; he definitely wasn’t going to miss out on the three most lucrative regions.
’A trip to Japan would be a good chance to see Egg, and I could see Sylvie again in Europe. I’d be fine with visiting those two places.’ Since he was willing to go to those two, he couldn’t really turn down the United States either. So, Shen Yibin nodded. "As long as the schedule isn’t too hectic, that’s all negotiable."
Normally, a more intensive promotional tour was better, but Hah’Er’s case was unique. Director Kong had even been prepared for Shen Yibin to refuse entirely. Hearing him agree was a pleasant surprise, so he didn’t care about the other details and quickly accepted the terms. Of course, these points would also be added to the contract.
Next, the two of them discussed a series of other details, such as Hah’Er’s specific daily work hours, his treatment on set, the number of assistants he’d be assigned, the exact dates for promotions, and so on. There was also the matter of the movie’s theme song. Director Kong seemed to believe Shen Yibin and Sun Qian had a special relationship, so he proactively offered her that opportunity as well.
Shen Yibin, however, was more cautious. He suggested they let Sun Qian audition first. If she was a good fit, that would be great. If not, they shouldn’t force it. The quality of the film should be the top priority.
"Alright, let’s leave it at that for today. I’ll call my lawyer as soon as I get back and have him draft the contract overnight. We can continue the discussion once it’s ready." The two of them talked until Xia Shixuan and her friends returned from their shopping trip. Director Kong stood up and shook Shen Yibin’s hand, bidding him farewell. After all this effort, the deal was mostly settled, and he was overjoyed.
"Sounds good. I’ll have my own lawyer look it over then." Shen Yibin saw Director Kong back to his hotel and then returned to the shop. By then, Hah’Er and Maphario were already sound asleep.
’Sleep tight. Enjoy the peace and quiet for now. You’re about to get very busy.’