82: Chapter 82 Bai Yueguang

"Movie special effects?"

Chen Mo paused slightly, but he wasn't too surprised.

Ever since Tianxing Animation released "battle through the heavens," countless film companies from both domestic and international markets had approached them. Even top-tier international special effects studios like Marvel had come, offering extremely high bids, but they were all scared away by Tianxing's quoted prices in the end.

Not to mention the domestic companies; Nalan Ruoshui, following his instructions, hadn't even paid them any attention.

When Chen Mo heard this, he understood: Wu Jing seeking him out at this time most likely meant he had just finished filming the first part of "Wolf Warrior." If it were the second part, these celebrities wouldn't dare look down on him so much.

"So, how much are you prepared to pay?" Chen Mo asked.

Wu Jing rubbed his hands together and honestly stated, "CEO Chen, the total investment for my film was 150 million. It's all shot now, only the special effects remain. I have 50 million left in hand."

He didn't dare say that this 50 million needed to cover both the special effects and the promotion for the release.

This was the first film he both directed and starred in. 80 million of the 150 million was his own investment. To raise the money, he had even mortgaged his house. It could only succeed, not fail. That’s why he dared to approach Tianxing for the special effects, hoping to achieve the best result.

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the celebrities and directors present toward Wu Jing changed.

In 2014, 150 million was definitely a major production, and daring to allocate 50 million for special effects—this was simply madness!

In the past, domestic special effects films often boasted exaggerated claims about the money spent on special effects during promotion, but few were actually willing to spend it.

Instead of pouring money into special effects, it was more cost-effective to hire two top-tier celebrities.

Moreover, no one dared to try any tricks in front of CEO Chen; Wu Jing genuinely intended to spend 50 million on special effects.

"Holy crap, is Wu Jing serious? 50 million for special effects?"

"Is he insane? Couldn't he use that money to hire a few top stars?"

"Isn't he afraid of losing everything?"

"After all, he invested most of the money himself. It’s understandable that he wants the best, but the risk is too huge!"

The bullet comments in the live stream were also discussing this:

"Help! 50 million for special effects? Wu Jing must have bet his entire fortune on this!"

"Right now, very few directors dare to throw money into special effects like this!"

"Does he think that spending money on special effects guarantees success? That’s too naive!"

"Feeling sorry for Wu Jing for three seconds. If the special effects turn out badly, he’ll lose his house!"

"CEO Chen definitely won't agree. 50 million isn't even enough to fill a gap for Tianxing!"

Chen Mo listened, smiled, and said, "50 million? Do you know how much Tianxing Animation quoted to foreign companies?"

"I don't know."

Wu Jing quickly shook his head. He only knew that all domestic companies had been rejected; he had no idea what the quotes were. He had come today with just a mindset of giving it a try.

"Let me tell you, Marvel came to see me, and they were all scared off by the quote. I quoted 120,000 US dollars per second," Chen Mo said, holding up one finger.

At this moment, the entire audience fell into a dead silence!

Yang Mi and the other two were also stunned, their eyes filled with shock.

120,000 US dollars per second. That’s 7.2 million per minute, 72 million per ten minutes. A film has at least twenty to thirty minutes of special effects, which would be over 200 million US dollars, equivalent to over 1.3 billion RMB!

Who could afford that?

Foreign blockbusters have far more than twenty to thirty minutes of special effects!

No wonder even Marvel was scared away!

The live stream comments instantly froze, and after recovering, they were filled with amazement:

"Holy crap! 120,000 US dollars per second? CEO Chen, are you kidding me!"

"This is insane, insane! Isn't this price daylight robbery?"

"Wait a minute, even Marvel couldn't afford it? Then just how incredible must Tianxing's special effects be!"

"So it wasn't that Tianxing refused domestic work; it’s that no one domestically could afford the price!"

"Wu Jing is finished now. 50 million is only enough for a little over a minute!"

"Pity Wu Jing. Just when hope ignited, a bucket of cold water was poured on him!"

Wu Jing took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and said with a trembling voice, "CEO Chen, you... you aren't joking, are you?"

"Do you think I would joke with you?" Chen Mo countered.

He knew clearly that the world's top special effects currently cost nearly one thousand to almost two thousand US dollars per frame. At 24 frames per second, the cost was nearly 40,000 US dollars.

Tianxing's special effects were several generations ahead of those, so charging 120,000 US dollars per second was not an overcharge at all; it was dirt cheap, ridiculously cheap.

Wu Jing smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I was presumptuous, CEO Chen. I apologize for disturbing you."

He was inherently very proud. It was already difficult for him to swallow his pride and beg for help. Now that he knew he couldn't afford it at all, he had no face to linger on and turned to leave.

But just as he turned, Chen Mo spoke up:

"Wait. For the special effects of this movie, I will do it for you for free, but I have one condition."

Wu Jing suddenly turned back, his face full of disbelief: "CEO Chen, you... you said free?"

"Yes, free."

Chen Mo pointed to Yang Mi, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Guli Nazha beside him.

"For the female lead of your next movie, choose one from among these three."

He never intended to invest in "Wolf Warrior 2." The profit of one or two billion was nothing to him, and he didn't want to take advantage of Wu Jing. It was better to return a favor and simultaneously help the careers of these three girls.

As soon as this was said, the entire audience erupted. The celebrities looked at Wu Jing with naked envy, jealousy, and hatred!

"Free special effects? Wu Jing must have walked through eight lifetimes of good luck!"

"Holy cow, did Wu Jing save the Earth in a past life?"

"CEO Chen actually thinks so highly of him?"

"Not only is he getting free special effects, but he also gets to choose the female lead from among the people beside CEO Chen. This is a clear move to promote Wu Jing!"

"I'm crying from envy. If I could receive such appreciation from CEO Chen, I'd be willing to be the richest man!"

"Good heavens! The person upstairs, wake up, stop sleeping!"

"Tianxing's special effects—so many people beg for them and can't get them. Wu Jing gets them for free!"

"Help! CEO Chen is too generous! Free Tianxing special effects?"

"Wu Jing's ancestral grave must be smoking! This move is a complete reversal of fate!"

"So it turns out CEO Chen didn't just find Wu Jing pleasing; he wants to promote his own people!"

"Whether it's Yang Mi, Dilraba, or Nazha chosen as the female lead, the next movie is guaranteed to be a hit!"

"I guess CEO Chen must have high hopes for Wu Jing's next film, otherwise he wouldn't be so generous!"

"The ones who mocked Wu Jing just now, are your faces swollen now?"

"Wu Jing is about to take off. He won't be a third-tier nobody anymore!"

Yang Mi looked at Wu Jing, a thought forming in her mind.

She understood Chen Mo too well. He wouldn't be this generous just because Wu Jing had a few drinks, nor would he randomly let them be the female lead.

It seemed Wu Jing's "Wolf Warrior" was highly likely to explode!

Chen Mo's judgment had never been wrong. Coupled with the enhancement of Tianxing's special effects, as long as the movie wasn't too terrible, the box office was guaranteed.

It was a pity the movie was already finished; she had no time to invest or participate. Fortunately, there was a next one.

She immediately started calculating in her head: for the next film, even if she wasn't the female lead, she had to rope in Dilraba Dilmurat and Guli Nazha to invest together. Even if they lost money, they could find Chen Mo for 'compensation' together, which was much more reliable than going alone.

After Wu Jing processed the situation, he excitedly said, "Thank you, CEO Chen! Thank you, CEO Chen! No problem! Absolutely no problem! Forget choosing one female lead; even if you wanted all three, I would cooperate fully!"

For him, this was a windfall from heaven. Forget choosing one female lead; even if CEO Chen made more excessive demands, he would agree.

As he spoke, he glanced at an unopened bottle of white liquor on a nearby table. Without a second thought, he picked it up, twisted off the cap, and poured it down his throat, finishing the entire bottle in one go. After drinking, he swayed slightly and bowed deeply to Chen Mo:

"CEO Chen, I cannot thank you enough for this great kindness. In the future, if you need my help, I will go through mountains of knives and seas of fire without hesitation!"

The people present were stunned again:

"Oh my god! He downed a whole bottle of white liquor? This Wu Jing can really drink!"

"This is showing loyalty, but it's understandable. The benefits CEO Chen offered are too great!"

"That's over 50-proof liquor. Drinking two bottles straight—his constitution is too strong!"

Chen Mo waved his hand:

"Alright, stop drinking. I will have someone contact you regarding the special effects. Go back and wait for the news."

"Yes! Yes! CEO Chen, rest assured! I will definitely wait for your news!"

Wu Jing nodded repeatedly and staggered back. By this point, he was already a bit dazed from the alcohol, having already drunk quite a bit before chugging another bottle of white liquor.

Chen Mo looked at the eager faces of the surrounding celebrities and felt a bit impatient; he didn't want to stay any longer.

He then left directly with the three women.

After leaving the venue, Chen Mo had the other drivers send them back.

He himself left in the car driven by Old Xu.

Half an hour later, Chen Mo arrived at a villa. After ringing the doorbell, a faint sound of footsteps followed, and the villa's main door opened from the inside.

First, a section of a fair and slender wrist was revealed, then the whole person appeared.

She was:

Fairy Sister, Wang Yuyan, Little Dragon Girl, Bai Xiuzhu, Zhao Ling'er.

She was also Chen Mo's white moonlight.

Later, she became the 'Fatty Fairy's' Fairy Sister, Liu Tianxian.

Picture.