Chapter 52

(Monday, let's push the rankings, guys, give me your votes!)

When he got home, he heard Kong Yiji shouting, "This is a pack of West Lake Longjing tea, Old Mr. Chen asked me to bring it. It almost got me arrested for drug trafficking during the security check. And this sweater, it was Aunt Pei... that is, Chen Tiandu's mother, who knitted it herself. She said the weather is getting cold and insisted I bring it over."

"Hand-knitted sweater, wow, the color is so nice. Aunt Pei's craftsmanship is really good," Kate said in surprise. "What else did you bring?"

"I'm sorry, I brought a big bag of food, but it was all confiscated."

Kong Yiji said, "You haven't met his mother, she's something else. She didn't consider that I was traveling halfway around the world. She wouldn't let me leave until my suitcase was stuffed full, including a jar of kimchi and homemade jerky for Old Chen to try. In the end, it all got taken at customs. By the way, Kate, there's a gift for you too."

"What, I have a gift too? How embarrassing." Though she said this humbly, Kate didn't hesitate to reach for it, "What is it, let me see quickly."

Chen Tiandu smiled and pushed the door open, shouting, "Old Kong, you're here. Wow, you've put on some weight." He had matured a lot, at least in appearance, looking like someone capable of great things. He gave his good friend a big hug.

Kong Yiji pushed him away, dissatisfied, "Which of your dog eyes saw me fat? I'm so slim, I don't know how many American girls are throwing me flirtatious glances."

Chen Tiandu bared his teeth, "You're not only fat but also talkative. You've been away for half a year, and your guts have grown. You dare to talk to me like this. I was thinking of helping you get rich, but with this attitude... tsk tsk."

Kong Yiji paused, his face instantly changing, and he smiled, "Brother, dear brother, oh, look at my big mouth. What I meant was that your keen eyesight can see that I've gained twenty pounds, it's a compliment to you."

"Alright, stop stalling. What did my mom bring me?" He hadn't seen his family in a long time and missed them a lot.

Kate couldn't help but laugh, "You two are really amusing. Darling, try on this sweater, it was knitted by Auntie."

Kong Yiji complained, "I'm still hungry, when are we going out for a big meal, you two big stars and directors?" His words were ignored by Chen Tiandu, who eagerly took off his coat to try on the sweater.

After more than a year away, the size was still perfectly accurate. That's what a mother does.

After more than half an hour of "stuttering," they finally left. They drove to the restaurant together. On the way, Kate brought up the topic of giving Kong Yiji an English name.

"What about Jack? And then find a girlfriend named Screw, it would be a perfect match," Kong Yiji mused.

Chen Tiandu immediately rejected it, "Don't gross me out. Jack is just like Xiaoming or Xiaqiang in China. Let me suggest a few names."

Kong Yiji was picky, "I don't want any that don't sound cool or impressive. It should make me seem more heroic and strong."

Chen Tiandu paused, "Then... Trench, Cathedral, Tank, Caesar, Yin-Yang, Johnny, Church, pick one."

Kate looked at him strangely, "Your naming skills are pretty good, they sound like special forces names." Chen Tiandu grinned, "Thanks for the compliment... they could also be mercenaries."

Kong Yiji was conflicted, they all sounded good, which one should he choose?

...

The next day, Chen Tiandu and Kong Yiji, along with lawyer Donny and the acquisition team, and the original company executives, came to the new company to formally meet the employees and complete the company handover.

Early in the morning, all the employees were present, not a single one was late. However, everyone was a bit excited, frequently glancing at the closed meeting room door. They whispered excitedly, "Is the new boss really the director who shot 'The Sixth Sense'? I contributed twenty dollars to the box office for that movie." "Oh, my God! The first movie won the global box office champion of the year, 600 million dollars, wow." "I heard he's only been in America for a year. People are really different, how can there be such a big gap?" "I heard he made half a billion from one movie. Since he's acquiring our company, there should be big plans." "Don't get your hopes up, Barry. You'd better pray the new boss doesn't lay off or replace a lot of people." The crowd suddenly quieted down, and the excited discussion cooled off.

"God bless me, I don't want to lose this job..."

At this moment, the office door suddenly opened.

The original boss, with his iconic beer belly, walked in first, followed by Chen Tiandu and his group.

The entire company fell silent, and all the administrative employees watched them quietly.

The original boss clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention, "Colleagues, this might be the last time I speak to you like this. My abilities are limited, and I cannot lead the company to a better future. Fortunately, a more capable new boss has completed the acquisition of the company. I believe you all know who he is, Mr. Christmas Chen, the lead actor and director of 'The Sixth Sense.' I won't be the bad guy, now let's welcome Mr. Christmas Chen to speak..."

The office immediately erupted in applause, but everyone's expressions remained tense.

"Hello everyone, you may already know me. Yes, I am Chen Tiandu, and I am your new boss."

Chen Tiandu smiled, "I have two things to say. First, the company's name will officially change to 'Matrix Film Studio' from today. Second, I hope everyone can be more energetic because our company is about to produce its first movie, with an investment of no less than fifty million dollars. How much you can earn from this large sum of money depends on your work performance."

As soon as he finished speaking, the employees began to discuss excitedly, and their faces lit up with excitement. They clapped enthusiastically. For days, they had been most afraid of hearing the new boss say "layoffs," but now, with a fifty million dollar investment, not only would there be no layoffs, but they might even need to hire more people. They could finally put their worries to rest.

"Fifty million dollars for a movie, wow, that's a lot."

All the employees cheered, clapping and shouting, "Awesome!"

The original company did not have the capability to produce movies. As a production company, if it couldn't produce movies, it couldn't be called a production company. Chen Tiandu watched the jubilant office but didn't say much, leading everyone into his CEO office.

One can be a good actor, a good director, and a good star, but not necessarily a good boss.

Chen Tiandu didn't have the energy to control every detail. What he needed to do was to control the big picture.

Therefore, he needed a shrewd financial director and a competent professional manager to help him manage the company, finances, and movie investments. This position must be someone he trusted. "Old Kong, I'm giving you the stage, now it's time to show your strength."

"Please call me by my English name, 'Cathedral,' thank you."

Kong Yiji straightened his tie and said seriously, "Before we start, I have some good news for you. The martial arts master you asked me to find, and the martial arts director for 'The Matrix' from Hong Kong, have both agreed to the terms and are waiting for the formal contract."

Chen Tiandu's eyes lit up, and he didn't interrupt, letting him continue. Kong Yiji had changed a lot in the past year. During the filming of the previous movie, he was recommended to learn from Jeffrey, and he certainly didn't stay in one place.

Kong Yiji said earnestly, "For Matrix to develop, there are four key points: management, finance, talent, and you." He pointed at Chen Tiandu.

Chen Tiandu smiled, "Continue."

Kong Yiji grinned, "First, you need to have a dedicated crew for your company, a stable team that can maintain long-term cooperation. You also need a knowledgeable American to serve as your manager. When I was with Jeffrey Katzenberg on the last film, I didn't just mess around; I also studied the Hollywood model seriously."

"In short, 'The Matrix' is a huge investment. Regardless of whether you have the confidence to make money, we must partner with a major company because we don't have the channels to distribute big films..."

Chen Tiandu interrupted, "This company has distribution capabilities."

"Not enough. The channels I'm talking about are not just distribution, but theater distribution, global distribution, DVD and VHS distribution, trailer distribution, poster distribution, and movie soundtrack distribution. There are also promotional channels, such as TV, internet, magazines, and film reviews. And public relations channels, 'The Sixth Sense' is a big Oscar contender, but I have no idea how to handle the PR. There are many decisive factors, including which awards to aim for, avoiding overlapping awards, and the timing and location of the film's release. The fourth channel is merchandise, which is also very important. You secured 20% of the merchandise for 'The Sixth Sense,' showing that you knew its potential. In this area, Disney is the strongest among the Big Six, with theme parks all over the world. Another channel is sponsorship, which can save a lot of money."

Kong Yiji paused and continued, "DreamWorks is naturally your first choice for a partner, but DreamWorks is not the best option. Compared to the Big Six, DreamWorks is a step behind. If we can connect with the Big Six, we'll have a stronger foundation. I can't do this, it's all up to you."

"Clap, clap, clap~~" Chen Tiandu clapped for Kong Yiji, "A person who has been away for three days should be treated with new respect. Mr. Cathedral Kong, the capable should take on more responsibilities. The company's structure will be your responsibility."

Kong Yiji glared, "Hey, why should I do it for you? You haven't even told me what my compensation will be. My value is not low, and I'm the boss of a film and television company."

"Hey, you're even haggling now." Chen Tiandu laughed, "As long as you do well, I'll give you shares in Matrix Studio. Your Wushuang Film Company can't run without me, so put it on hold for now."

...

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