Capítulo 77: Steal the day

"I do have a plan" Christian exclaimed as Richard reacted.

When Christian first learned that the Newline would default on the shares, he was relieved. Though giving up the shares initially was challenging, it was now evident that it was a pitfall. How much regret could he feel?

After all, he had said he didn't regret it, but money is money. How could he not feel a pang of remorse?

However, soon after, Christian's attitude shifted. It was unclear whether it was a touch of gloating, but he suddenly realized there might be an opportunity.

An opportunity to assemble a dedicated professional director team.

While the Hollywood film industry was thriving, professionals in various fields were as accessible as spare parts. However, each director had their unique style, often preferring to work with familiar crew members.

The crew of "Wrong Turn" may not have featured any big names, but at least they were competent. With the shares Christian had relinquished, he could gain a team with a level of talent.

These were the people Christian had his eye on.

There were friends like Richard, who knew the industry inside out, and unknowns like photographer Addison Young. Bringing these individuals together required more than friendship; it necessitated an incentive.

Of course, Christian himself couldn't provide any immediate incentives. After all, he had already given up his share of the CD. Nonetheless, in many cases, the benefits gained were outweighed by the lost benefits when it came to uniting people.

Winners remained proud and independent, while only the losers huddled together for warmth. Those who had been robbed of their benefits by a common enemy would share their grievances.

The delay in Newline's share plan offered Christian a chance to win over everyone and share their grievances.

"First and foremost, those of you who are part of the crew must unite, move forward, and retreat together. We must not act independently; otherwise, we risk being defeated one by one," Christian began, outlining her plan.

"Secondly, you need a leader. I am better suited for this role than any of them," he declared.

Richard nodded in agreement.

Indeed, Christian's decision to give up his share and distribute it to everyone made his words more impartial. Newline couldn't refute this. Moreover, following the box office success of "Wrong Turn," Christian, as a rising star director, had significant investment potential. This gave him more influence than the seasoned professionals in the current crew, who had only achieved modest success.

"But what if the Newline just insists on the money..." Old Gun voiced his concerns.

After all, the producer's box office income ultimately rested in the hands of the Newline. As long as someone had a firm grip on the money, no matter how powerful you were, they could drag things out for years. They had a team of professional lawyers and accountants to handle these matters, while everyone had to make a living...

"I didn't intend to go to the Newline for money," Christian replied, leaving Old Gun surprised.

"The overall culture at Newline is steeped in extravagance. If they are determined to default, there's little I can do in the short term. I plan to compel them to provide the shares that should rightfully belong to you and invest in my new film. Then, we'll operate based on this premise."

"I see" Old Gun now understood.

It appeared that despite his claims of having no regrets, Christian, who was a decade younger, still had his mind on the shares he had given up. He wanted to seize this opportunity to assist everyone in resolving the share delay issue while indirectly investing in the new movie.

In this way, even if the shares weren't directly credited to his account, they would ultimately be put to use by him.

Old Gun didn't object to this plan. After all, friendship was one thing, and money was another. Keeping the two separate could sometimes hurt feelings, but when they become intertwined, they could damage both feelings and finances if not handled carefully.

"Just"

"Even if your plan is feasible, what if we can't access the cash immediately, and what if the Newline comes back for a share if the new movie becomes profitable?" Old Gun expressed his concerns, not mentioning what to do if the new movie flops. He was impressed with Christian's directing skills after "Wrong Turn" and had faith that making movies with him would be profitable, especially after reading the script for his new movie.

Old Gun's main worry was how to cash in after this elaborate plan. After all, Christian's scheme was essentially a strategy for the film company to default on shares, albeit technically intricate.

Christian fully understood the old gun's concerns. If she dared to propose this plan, she had follow-up solutions in mind.

"The key is to bring in another prominent production company so we can cash out without waiting for the new movie's release."

"You mean—"

Secure backing from a big player?

Though he didn't say it, the old gun understood Christian's intention completely. It was indeed a feasible solution.

If a movie had only Newline and its miscellaneous investors, Newline would have complete control over all decisions during production and profits afterward. Whether or not you got paid depended solely on the new line's conscience and mood.

Now, Old Gun was convinced that Newline had no conscience at all.

But if another production company of equal strength to the new line was introduced...

You see, while it may seem that the final profit distribution is based on capital contribution, the party that controls the specific processes during production and profit-sharing can have considerable influence. This aspect of income sharing isn't very transparent.

With this bait in place, there would be no need to stir the pot. The two companies would compete for leadership over the project, which was within the industry's norms. But then, the investment ratio for Old Gun and the others would shift from being minor players to holding a significant stake in the balance. Their importance would skyrocket.

"When they battle it out, we'll divide the profits we negotiated into investment shares and sell them to the highest bidder. It might even bring more than we initially aimed for," Christian explained.

"Just focus on the cash this time"

"That's right" Old Gun was also very invested this time.

He now realized that the later-stage distribution was truly a capital game. As an honest wage earner, he received a straightforward salary, but...

"Christian, if this plan goes through, what percentage are we dividing with you?"

As an experienced figure in this field, the old gun knew Christian wasn't doing this for free, especially considering her leadership role in many aspects. According to industry norms, he'd want a share.

"I'm not looking for a cut," Christian replied.

Old Gun was surprised once again by her response.

"Before we start the new movie, I plan to establish my studio. I hope you'll join me then. Getting these shares is equivalent to my first paycheck to you" Christian explained.