Benshan’s beloved disciple, starting from the 2009 Spring Festival Gala
Chapter 23 - Uncle Benshan Strikes Back

Chapter 23  Uncle Benshan Strikes Back

After deducting 8.3% in special funds and taxes, another 50% taken by theaters, and 10% by distributors, the sole production company of Lost on Journey, Benshan Media, could expect to net around 90 million yuan in box office revenue.

According to the profit-sharing agreement, 10% of that amount would go to Qu Yiming. However, box office revenue takes time to be paid out. At present, Yiming Media’s account only held 10 million yuan wired over by Uncle Benshan. Fortunately, the entire Lost on Journey franchise rights belonged to Qu Yiming, meaning he could sell the overseas rights to Lost on Journey 1.

Although comedies often struggle to sell internationally due to cultural differences—and may not sell at all—the film’s impressive performance (800,000 yuan budget raking in 230 million at the box office) attracted buyers from Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

After negotiations, three distributors paid 2 million, 3.5 million, and 5.5 million yuan respectively for regional rights to Lost on Journey 1. With this 11 million yuan in new income and the 10 million from Uncle Benshan, Yiming Media had a smooth and successful launch.

On the opening day, Qu Yiming didn’t hold any kind of celebration. He didn’t need to—people from inside and outside the industry were already scrambling to collaborate with him. One such person was Zhang Yimou.

While A Simple Noodle Story had secured a deal with Benshan’s comedy troupe, Zhao Benshan’s team, no contract had been signed with Qu Yiming.

…

At Beijing, in a private room at a hotel, Zhang Yimou and his partner Zhang Weiping met with Uncle Benshan and Qu Yiming for negotiations.

Zhang Weiping slapped a contract onto the table and said, “You folks from Zhao’s troupe are really something. I had Director Zhang personally invite you to act in A Simple Noodle Story, and then you suddenly backed out. This is a film directed by Zhang Yimou! Other people dream of such a chance. Still, I’m a generous man—here’s 500,000 yuan in pay. Sign the contract today.”

He slid the contract over to Qu Yiming.

Five hundred thousand?

Qu Yiming set down the script for A Simple Noodle Story and replied apologetically, “Director Zhang, Mr. Zhang, thank you for the invitation. But I don’t have the schedule for this film. As for the role of Li Si, I suggest you let my master choose someone else from Zhao’s troupe.”

Uncle Benshan chimed in, “I’ve got a student who—”

Smack!

Before he could finish, Zhang Weiping angrily slammed the table and shouted, “This role must be played by Qu Yiming! I gave Zhao’s troupe this opportunity purely out of respect for Director Zhang. Otherwise, do you think I’d come to you?”

Zhang Weiping, being the financier of A Simple Noodle Story, was also Zhang Yimou’s boss. In his eyes, even Zhang Yimou was just a tool to make money—let alone Zhao’s troupe or some ‘billion-yuan director’. Uncle Benshan’s face darkened instantly at the insult.

“Let’s all calm down,” Zhang Yimou said and tried to mediate.

“Don’t you speak,” Zhang Weiping snapped. Then, glaring at Uncle Benshan and Qu Yiming, he said, “You’ve got two choices: one, Qu Yiming signs the contract and joins the shoot; two, I’ll treat this as a breach of contract. Benshan Media’s investment in A Simple Noodle Story will not be refunded. Don’t think I can’t finish this movie without you!”

“A lousy film—whoever wants it can take it! With me, with my master, with Benshan Media—do you think we’ll be short of good projects?” Qu Yiming shouted back. “I’d like to see if you can polish this turd into gold!”

As he spoke, he grabbed a teacup and smashed it against the wall behind Zhang Weiping.

“If you ever dare yell at my master again, I’ll crack your damn head open!”

Crash!

The teacup shattered into pieces.

“You—!”

Zhang Weiping grabbed a plate, ready to throw it back.

“Enough!” Uncle Benshan bellowed. “You think I’m someone to be messed with!”

He continued, “It’s your own negligence you didn’t sign a contract with Qu Yiming. And I only agreed to Zhao’s troupe joining the project—I never guaranteed a specific actor. How does that make it a breach? What—business terms aren’t working, legal terms don’t scare you, so you’re trying to play thug now?”

You think “Past Shanhaiguan, the rules don’t apply” doesn’t hold anymore?

Staring coldly into Zhang Weiping’s eyes, Uncle Benshan finished. Zhang Weiping, gritting his teeth, replied, “I don’t need Zhao’s troupe anymore! Benshan Media must withdraw its investment!”

“Fine…” Uncle Benshan nodded. “Then we’ll consider you in breach.”

“We’re leaving!”

Zhang Weiping stood up and stormed out. Zhang Yimou gave Uncle Benshan a polite gesture, then followed. Now only Qu Yiming and Uncle Benshan remained in the private room.

Uncle Benshan asked, “A Simple Noodle Story is really that bad?”

One of its screenwriters had previously collaborated with Benshan Media on Not a Problem, after all.

“Absolutely terrible,” said Qu Yiming. “If it weren’t for Zhang Yimou directing and Zhao’s troupe acting, we’d lose our shirts.”

Uncle Benshan trusted him—Lost on Journey had only just finished its theatrical run, after all.

“Sigh. Then we won’t invest. Zhang Yimou partnering with someone like that—sooner or later it’ll go south.”

And he was right.

After A Simple Noodle Story was released and performed poorly at the box office, Zhang Yimou hosted a dinner with Uncle Benshan and Zhang Weiping.

After two drinks, Zhang Weiping jabbed Uncle Benshan in the back of the head and blamed Zhao’s troupe for the film’s failure. Later, he told Zhang Yimou the reason he poked Uncle Benshan was because he had a stent in his head.

It was also Zhang Weiping who leaked Zhang Yimou’s violation of the family planning policy. He was a self-serving scoundrel through and through.

If A Simple Noodle Story was still scheduled for a Lunar New Year release, it had to be ruthlessly countered. That thought stayed with Qu Yiming.

…