Chapter 166 A eloquent tongue
Richard shook off Li Chen's hand, still furious.

"Li Chen, you'd better give me a reasonable explanation."

“Otherwise, even if you have already acquired some shares of New Line.”

"Warner also has the ability to make your efforts come to nothing."

Li Chen smiled secretly in his heart, foreigners can also use idioms.

People actually say that it is a futile effort.

Li Chen laughed: "So that's what it is."

"Richard, we have known each other for three years, right, ever since you bought the remake rights of The New World from me?"

Richard said unhappily, “That’s right, so even if you refuse to sell The Conjuring to me, I will still treat you as a friend.”

"But how did you do that? You were stealing your friend's girl!"

Li Chen laughed: "Don't be angry, Richard."

"Listen to me and I'll explain. I promise you won't be angry anymore after I finish explaining."

"Come, let's sit down and talk slowly."

"Okay, I'll listen to what you have to say."

"I'm not afraid to tell you if you don't give me a satisfactory answer today."

"We at Warner will terminate our cooperation with Chiyou Pictures."

"Warner Bros. is willing to pay the penalty for breach of contract, including the publicity and promotion of Thieves."

"And from now on, any movie produced by Chiyou Pictures will no longer be able to use any of Warner's resources."

"Li Chen, I know you are very powerful in China, but this is Hollywood after all, it is America."

"Warner wants to deal with Chiyou Pictures. In Chinese, it's a piece of cake."

"You should be very aware of Warner's strength and resources in the media industry."

Li Chen nodded: "You are right, Richard."

"In Hollywood, it is indeed very easy for you to deal with Chiyou Pictures."

"In China, it's called a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake."

"But in the Chinese market, with Rongchen's strength, it won't be difficult to deal with Warner."

"After all, Warner Bros. isn't the only one eyeing the huge pie of the Chinese market."

"The Hollywood Big Six and the other five are also eyeing the market."

"I'm sure you guys at Warner are well aware of my relationship with President Han, as well as my strength in the country."

"If I want to use some tricks to stop Warner from entering the Chinese market, it won't be difficult."

"Even your Warner Music, I can also work with Sony or Universal if I want."

"Let's work together to squeeze your market share in China!"

Richard was so angry that he was at a loss.

Although he admitted that what Li Chen said made sense.

But how could they, Warner, be easily scared by Li Chen?

Richard sneered: "In that case, let's wait and see."

After saying this, he was about to turn around and leave, but before he had taken two steps, he stopped.

He was so angry at Li Chen that he was confused. Then he remembered what Li Chen had just said that he would not be angry after listening to his explanation.

But until now, I haven't heard what he said.

Besides, the purpose of my coming here today has not been achieved yet.

Li Chen looked at Richard who turned around, his facial features squeezed together, and laughed.

"Well, my friend, don't be angry."

"There are only two of us here, and no outsiders are around. If we say something harsh, none of us will be embarrassed."

Richard took a deep breath.

Calm yourself down slowly.

"Okay, Li Chen, I'll listen to you. I hope you won't disappoint us Warner."

"Sit down, Richard."

Li Chen stopped talking nonsense.

Two people sat opposite each other around the desk in the study.

"Richard, I have a question for you."

Is New Line a burden to Warner Bros. now? "

"What do you mean by that, Li Chen?"

Li Chen chuckled: "It's obvious. New Line has been embroiled in lawsuits every year. It has been on a downward spiral since The Lord of the Rings."

"Every year's profit and loss report shows that you are the major shareholder of Xinxian."

"It's more like being a sucker. If this continues, the losses of the new line will be a bottomless pit."

"What exactly do you want to say, Li Chen?"

"Don't worry, Richard. If the shareholders don't make money, they won't support old Shay anymore."

"That's why Shay took the risk, bet his entire fortune, and borrowed a large sum of money from the bank."

“I started this Golden Compass project to recreate the glory of The Lord of the Rings.”

"All New Line shareholders know that once The Golden Compass is a success, the shares they hold will still be shares and they will still be theirs."

"The Golden Compass failed, and the shares they held are nothing more than a piece of waste paper."

"By that time, no one will offer my price to buy out their shares."

"Perhaps by that time, New Line will become history and be acquired by your Warner."

Richard silently looked at the oriental man in front of him.

A huge wave rose in my heart.

Li Chen explained the strategic intentions of New Line's top management in just a few words.

They are now like Jiang Taigong sitting on the Diaoyutai.

You will never lose.

New Line made money with The Golden Compass, and as shareholders, they also made money.

New Line's The Golden Compass flopped.

They can then buy up shares of New Line at a bargain price.

Disintegrate old Shay's allies.

Completely control New Line in Warner's hands.

But now Li Chen suddenly appears.

It disrupted all their plans.

"So you took advantage of the situation and poached our Warner employees."

Li Chen felt amused when he heard this.

It is indeed the American bandit logic. Warner is waiting for New Line to be at its weakest and then deliver the most fatal blow.

"No, no, no, you're wrong, Richard."

"I do this for New Line, Warner, and us, Chiyou."

"They are all beneficial and have no harm. Otherwise, Old Shay is not a fool. Why would he agree to my plan?"

"Then tell me, how come there are only benefits and no harm?"

"I believe you at Warner are the most aware of Chiyou's profitability."

"Let's not talk about Insidious 1 and Insidious 2. The movie Thieves hasn't been released yet. Warner Bros. is the distributor."

"Your Warner team should have a professional evaluation of this film, otherwise they would not be willing to release it."

Richard's expression softened.

What Li Chen said was true.

"If I take over New Line, New Line will no longer be a burden to Warner Bros."

"On the contrary, New Line Day will become an independent film production and distribution company second only to the Big Six."

"Richard, don't forget that I have a lot of valuable scripts in my hands."

"But the weakness of Chiyou Pictures lies in distribution. If we can make up for this gap with New Line, it will also be an optimal allocation of resources for us at Chiyou Pictures."

“And for old Shea, it can also preserve New Line’s independent status.”

Richard had already figured out Li Chen's intentions long before he came.

Warner’s senior think tank has actually analyzed the pros and cons of this matter.

Warner has Warner Bros. Movies.

So for the new line.

Warner is not determined to win.

But we cannot tolerate the new line losing money every year.

If Li Chen can really do what he said.

Build New Line into a highly profitable independent film production and distribution company.

Warner actually has something to accept.

But this was not why he came today.

I was just acting.

It’s just to let Li Chen express his intentions himself.

This made Li Chen feel guilty, but fortunately he was in an advantageous position in the subsequent negotiations.

"Okay, I admit that you have a point."

"We at Warner can acquiesce to your acquisition of New Line's shares."

"But we have one request."

Li Chen heaved a sigh of relief: "Please speak."

Richard raised his lips and said, "We also want to buy your shares in Rongchen Pictures in China, and the price will definitely satisfy you."

Li Chen laughed out loud when he heard this.

Richard didn't know whether he was happy or unhappy.

I also started laughing.

It took a long while before Li Chen stopped laughing.

"Richard, this is simply impossible."

Just kidding! If he acquires New Line.

In the future, Rongchen Pictures’ promotion and marketing in North America can be completely handed over to New Line.

No need for Warner at all.

Warner's calculation was good. He was just poaching his people, but he wanted to cut off his source of income and destroy his own nest.

Richard laughed and said, "How is that impossible, Li Chen."

"Your Rongchen Pictures is the most powerful film and television company in China, and our Warner is also one of the most powerful film and television companies in Hollywood."

“Isn’t this a strong alliance?”

What a strong alliance, but I'm afraid it will end up inviting a wolf into the house.

"You don't have to talk, Richard."

"The profitability of Rongchen Pictures is second only to the Big Six, even in Hollywood."

"Since its establishment, Rongchen Pictures has never made a loss on any of its projects in the four years since its establishment."

"I guess even you Warners can't do it, right?"

"To be honest, many companies have tried to acquire Rongchen Pictures, but I refused to agree."

"I admit that Warner is very powerful, but Rongchen Pictures does not need it at the moment."

"Let me put it this way, Richard, will Warner allow me to acquire your Warner shares?"

Richard laughed and said, "Li Chen, I'm not looking down on you. I know you're rich, but Warner can't be acquired just by having money."

Li Chen also laughed and said, "Well said, this is what I want to tell you Warner."

"You can't buy Rongchen Pictures just because you have money and power. If I don't give you the nod, no one else can help."

Richard let out a sigh and smiled.

"Okay, Li Chen, let's take another step back."

"We may not acquire your Rongchen Pictures, but we will acquire a portion of the shares of Chiyou Pictures."

Li Chen understood immediately.

Perhaps this is the reason why Richard came today.

They knew very well that there was no way I would agree to their acquisition.

That's why he made a feint, and then settled for the next best thing, which was to buy Chiyou's shares.

In this way, even if Chiyou acquired the new line.

Warner has shares in both.

Same situation as when they acquired New Line.

This means that you now have an independent production company like Chiyou that is highly profitable for no reason.

Li Chen quickly weighed the pros and cons of this matter in his mind.

"Richard, it's not that this matter cannot be considered, but today is not the best time to discuss it."

"Let's talk about this after The Golden Compass is released."

"Today is our Chiyou celebration party. Drinking and talking happily is our theme today. What do you think?"

Richard laughed and said, "Okay, but the issue of shares still needs to be settled as soon as possible. This is the unanimous opinion of our Warner executives."

Li Chen stood up and said with a smile: "Let's go, Richard. It's not good for me, the host, to not show up for a long time."

(End of this chapter)