blueteamnovel Chapter 39: Dominating Hollywood!
Chapter 39: Dominating Hollywood!
Clutching the thin HSBC bank passbook, Qin Han's mind was in turmoil.
That string of numbers represents all the wealth Bruce Lee accumulated over years of fighting in Hong Kong, through every punch and kick he landed.
In the original historical trajectory, this superstar would have fallen in a few months, leaving behind a widow and her children to face a chaotic world.
And now, he has handed over this "life-saving money" to himself without reservation.
This trust is as heavy as Mount Tai.
Qin Han suppressed his surging emotions and didn't say anything sentimental. He simply and solemnly put the bankbook into his inner pocket and carefully put it away.
He raised his head, his eyes blazing: "Master, I will turn this money into a mountain of gold."
"And I assure you, we, master and apprentice, will continue to fight in Hollywood for another thirty or forty years, until we can no longer fight!"
Bruce Lee, of course, didn't understand Qin Han's subtext and simply took it as the boastful words of a young man.
He laughed heartily and said, "Great! As long as you have the will, it doesn't matter if I lose everything! I'll just make a few more movies!"
Emboldened by the confidence his master had given him, Qin Han returned to the living room, and his aura had completely changed.
"Peter, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." He sat back down in the main seat. "Regarding 'Jaws,' why don't you name a price you think is appropriate?"
A flicker of struggle crossed Peter's eyes.
Before setting off, as someone from a family of writers, he had already invited his father to assess the potential of the novel.
The father believed that Jaws had amazing potential.
But he also knew that without Qin Han's "gift," he might still be shivering in the cold wind of New York.
Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay.
"Qin, since you're so straightforward, I'll get straight to the point." After considering for a long time, Peter said, "One hundred thousand US dollars."
"This is a very fair price. You know, the book publishing market is recovering right now, and Random House is very interested in this outline..."
Fearing that Qin Han would find it too expensive, he quickly explained.
Qin Han did not show any surprise. 100,000? That's 20,000 less than the price Universal paid for it in his previous life.
It seems Peter has indeed offered a "friendship price".
"One hundred thousand..." He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "Peter, I don't like this number."
Peter's heart tightened, and he was about to lower his offer when Qin Han continued, "In Chinese culture, numbers have symbolic meanings."
"I prefer the number eight. The pronunciation of 'eight' in Chinese is similar to 'prosperity,' which represents wealth and good fortune. Eighty thousand US dollars, Peter, let's get rich together, how about it?"
He had expected Qin Han to bargain, but he never imagined he would use such a strange reason.
If someone else had said that, it wouldn't have mattered, but when Qin Han said it, it carried a completely different weight—this young man had just "predicted" the end of the Vietnam War!
Is a $20,000 price difference worth the friendship of this Chinese man with unlimited potential, and a lucky break to "get rich"?
It seems I'm not at a disadvantage!
"Great!" Peter smiled with relief. "I'll do as you say, eighty thousand dollars! I also hope this novel will make us all rich, just like you said!"
Qin Han laughed heartily, stood up, and shook hands firmly with Peter: "Deal!"
Andrew had already prepared paper and pen on the side.
"A formal copyright transfer agreement involves many legal clauses and requires the involvement of a lawyer. Today, let's sign a memorandum of understanding first, and you can receive a deposit of $10,000."
Qin Han quickly wrote his name on the filing form: "Peter, it's a rare opportunity to come to California, so have a good two days here. Once the formal contract is drafted, we'll settle the remaining balance in one go."
"No problem!" Peter signed his name, in high spirits.
As they were seeing the two off, in the brief moment Peter got into the car, Qin Han leaned close to the blonde woman's ear and whispered, "Come back as soon as you've settled our writer in."
"I have a... more personal project that I need to discuss with you."
The warm breath touched her earlobe, and Rona's body stiffened slightly.
She turned her head, her eyes gleaming, and glanced at Qin Han with a half-smile: "Oh? Then I'll have to listen carefully."
After saying that, she got into the driver's seat and drove Peter towards the hotel.
After the guests left, the villa became quiet.
Qin Han closed the door: "Master, Andrew."
He said to the two of them very seriously, "Now that we have some start-up capital, the way we played before needs to be completely changed."
"I want to start a company."
"A company?" Bruce Lee was surprised. Raymond Chow had been kind to him and he had no intention of going it alone.
Helping one's apprentice is a matter of principle, and staying at Jiahe is also a matter of principle.
Originally, Qin Han planned to establish a company only after receiving all the profits from the films.
But now, the pace can be sped up!
He excitedly walked to the whiteboard and wrote down words such as film studio, agent, actor, and director:
"Hollywood is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation."
"Agents started stepping into the limelight, moving between major film studios in all sorts of unheard-of ways."
He turned to Bruce Lee: "For example, Master, you're currently a contracted artist with Golden Harvest. But in reality, what resources can Golden Harvest provide for you in Hollywood?"
Bruce Lee remained silent.
Indeed, Golden Harvest was just a newcomer in Hollywood, with connections that were even less than those he had when he tried to build his own reputation.
"So, we're going to try a different approach—establish a real talent agency!"
He began to describe to the two the model that would later be known as CAA (Creative Arts Agency) and the "package" system that dominated Hollywood for decades.
"In this way, neither of you will need to leave Jiahe to make a name for yourselves here!"
"When we have the best directors, producers, actors, and scripts in our hands... like with 'Jaws' just now!"
"Then, power will reverse, and we will be invincible in Hollywood!"
Bruce Lee and Andrew were both intelligent men, and their eyes lit up as they listened to his words.
Especially Bruce Lee; combined with his philosophical thought, isn't this a business philosophy of "using no way as way, using the infinite as the finite"?
Instead of passively waiting, we actively create opportunities and bring all the most crucial elements into our own hands.
"Ah Han, your idea is so ahead of its time! If it can really be done, then we won't have to depend on anyone else!"
More importantly, the model proposed by Qin Han perfectly avoided the awkward situation of having to choose between his apprentice and Jiahe!
"I agree! We'll do it your way!"
Having secured the largest shareholder, Qin Han turned to look at Andrew.
Listening to Qin Han's grand plan, the assistant felt his mouth go dry.
"Andrew." Qin Han smiled like a fox who had just stolen a chicken, and put his arm around Andrew's shoulder.
"Even if you work your way up to production manager at Golden Harvest for ten years, you'll only ever reach that level at best. But here... you're a true veteran!"
"Mr. Zou is far away in Hong Kong and needs someone in Hollywood who can really keep an eye on his interests."
"So? Do you want to carry bags for someone else your whole life, or would you like to try being a trader?"
Andrew's heart pounded, a burning ambition taking root. He swallowed hard, his eyes unwavering: "I'll do it!"
"Hahaha! Welcome to the team!"
Just then, there was a knock on the villa's door.
Qin Han opened the door, and Luo Na burst into the room, looking at him with a seductive expression: "Tell me, what kind of 'more private project' do you want to do with me?"