Chapter 189 So Stubborn?

"There are five points in total."

"First, entries must use original scripts. I will give the filming teams full creative freedom, casting freedom, and filming freedom."

"Second, perform thorough background checks on casting choices and refuse the participation of any actors with a tarnished reputation."

"Third, the 20 filming teams that enter the finals will each receive 400 million in funding. This funding covers equipment costs, salaries for directors and staff, actor salaries, post-production editing, dubbing, and so on. Any surplus must be returned, and there will be no extra funding if they run short. Company needs to arrange for our own finance personnel to supervise. There is no need to hinder how the directors allocate the funds; the key is to monitor whether anyone is embezzling."

"Fourth, no hidden rules are allowed. If discovered, the team will be disqualified from the competition, permanently blacklisted, and no further cooperation will occur. Our own people must also follow this ironclad rule. If anyone uses their position to force people into a crew, Company will immediately dismiss them and never rehire them. This clause can be added to the employee handbook so everyone is aware."

"Fifth, filming teams are not allowed to manipulate data. Normal promotional activities are fine. Don't worry about fans boosting data; that is the actor's appeal."

Ling Yue nodded. That was about it:

"The above five points must be written into the contract. When selecting, make it clear to everyone. Directors and screenwriters who cannot meet these requirements or have a tarnished reputation should be eliminated in the first round."

Ling Yue did not want the shows she paid to produce to end up unbroadcastable because a few people caused a scandal.

For any investor, that would probably be enough to cause a heart attack and land them in the ICU.

The sound of typing filled the room as each department recorded the boss's requirements into the meeting logs for future reference.

No one had any objections to Ling Yue's requirements.

The five conditions above were as normal as could be!

On the contrary, everyone felt it wasn't enough, so they discussed some relatively stricter regulations to include in the contract.

Finally, Director Jin Ming asked a very realistic question: "What are the prize amounts? This should also be written into the contract."

To be honest, Ling Yue's recent spending had been in the nine-figure range or higher, so she really didn't understand the current market rates.

So she threw the question back, "What do you all think is appropriate?"

"To attract more top directors to participate, naturally, the higher the prize money, the better. Since we have already spent so much money and time setting up the competition, we should do it with a bang and get it right the first time," Zeng Ru suggested.

Director Jin Ming, however, had a different opinion: "Filming projects labeled as competitions will deter some famous directors. This type of person usually disdains being compared with others.

Especially the big-name directors who are well-known in the industry; their schedules are basically fully booked. They have no interest in, nor do they think highly of, such obscure little competition projects.

To put it bluntly, they will feel that participating is degrading and a waste of time.

Company's reputation hasn't been established yet. It would be good enough if the first competition could attract directors of a standard first-class level. If we are lucky, we might even discover some hidden gems.

Money is tempting. Once the prize money is too high, all sorts of people will dare to submit entries. The scripts submitted in the initial phase alone could bury us, and the background checks alone could exhaust us to death.

Therefore, I think the prize money should be moderate; it shouldn't exceed the funding provided for filming."

Director Jin Ming's unreserved expression made the Vice President beside him change his expression.

Goodness!

He knew his immediate superior was not well-versed in social niceties.

But he didn't know he was this stubborn!

The big boss was sitting right there, having spent hundreds of billions to start the Company, and he called the competition she was holding an 'obscure' little project.

Although it might be true, couldn't he have expressed it more tactfully?

No wonder they asked him to handle external affairs; his boss really didn't know how to speak.

The key was...

How was he supposed to smooth things over!

The Vice President secretly wiped away sweat and kept licking his lips; he was so anxious!

In reality, apart from the employees being so nervous they couldn't sit still, Ling Yue didn't feel offended in the slightest.

After all, what Director Jin Ming said was the truth. Honestly, it was much better than passive-aggressive, roundabout communication.

"Does anyone else have a different opinion?" Ling Yue leaned forward, her gaze sweeping calmly over the crowd.

The employees sitting below all shook their heads.

As a former famous director, Director Jin Ming certainly understood the industry better than anyone else present, so there was no need to argue with him.

"Alright then." Ling Yue's gaze finally landed on Zeng Ru, and she said to her: "I speak, you write."

Zeng Ru hurriedly sat up straight, her fingers resting lightly on the keyboard.

Ling Yue: "The first-prize winner gets 100 million. Of this, 50 million is to be distributed proportionally to the main members of the creative team, which only includes screenwriters, directors, cinematographers, and lead actors. The remaining 50 million is to be split equally among the entire filming team, including all staff members and extras.

The second-prize winner gets 80 million. Of this, 40 million to the creative team, and 40 million to be split equally among the entire filming team.

The third-prize winner gets 60 million... The excellence award winners get 40 million, distributed as above.

For the other 20 filming teams that made it to the semi-finals but did not enter the finals, although they were unfortunately eliminated, they still spent at least 7 months preparing. Company will give each team 800,000 in compensation."

Ling Yue calculated carefully. Conducted in this format, the total expenditure for one competition would be less than 10 billion.

Although what she was about to say might sound like showing off, she still wanted to say it. She spent over a billion just going on a trip. A competition costing less than 10 billion could really be considered a small competition.

"Are there any other questions?" Seeing the sun setting, the meeting had lasted for a full three hours, and Ling Yue couldn't sit still anymore.

She felt as if ants were crawling under her bottom, itchy and painful. She was no longer that working stiff who could livestream for ten hours with an iron butt and still face life with a smile.

Her bottom was now a 'living bottom' and shouldn't sit for long periods.

The employees shook their heads one after another.

Ling Yue stood up decisively, "Alright, the meeting is adjourned. After you go down, both sides should balance your own work.

I see it's time to get off work. Don't be busy today; I've booked a restaurant. Since our two companies are collaborating for the first time, let's have a meal together."

"Great." Zeng Ru felt it was necessary. Both companies had the same boss, and there would be future collaborations, so mutual understanding would help with subsequent communication. Human relationships would slowly improve, one meal at a time.

Director Jin Ming was just about to say he needed to rush back to eat vegetarian food when the Vice President tugged on his sleeve.

"What's wrong?" He thought the Vice President also wanted to slip away.

The Vice President didn't see the expectation in his superior's eyes and whispered, "You can't skip the first meal. You have to talk to the boss and ask her to come back to our Company to preside over the big picture when she has time. Don't forget tomorrow's ribbon-cutting ceremony! This is a big deal. You are my superior, so you have to say it."

Director Jin Ming widened his eyes. How did he see that he wanted to slip away?

This subordinate was quite accurate in reading people. What he said made sense; since the Company was established, Ling Yue hadn't been there yet. She couldn't be absent from the ribbon-cutting tomorrow!

So on the way, Director Jin Ming straightforwardly expressed his request to Ling Yue. Ling Yue agreed immediately.

They were all her companies. She had attended the ribbon-cutting for Company, and now that it was Company's turn, she couldn't favor one over the other.