The door to the room swung open, and Zhang Ziyi stared in surprise at the young man standing before her. She couldn't believe he was younger than her. Just moments ago, she had heard Eric Cooper casually mention a donation of 5 million, and the currency was in dollars.
The figure, spoken so effortlessly by Eric, seemed as insignificant as if he had been talking about 500 dollars.
Zhang Ziyi, who had earned a fee of 130,000 yuan for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, became more in demand after the film's success, eventually earning 1.6 million yuan for Hero.
However, 1.6 million yuan was her ceiling. After all, Hero was a commercial blockbuster with a large budget, and such fees weren't typical for most Chinese films.
Yet here stood a young heir to MGM, speaking of 5 million dollars—an amount that, converted to yuan, was over 40 million, a sum she could only dream of earning after making thirty films like Hero. But for him, it seemed like just a drop in the ocean.
At that moment, she once again felt the chasm she hadn't sensed since meeting Gong Li.
After the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she had gained international recognition, and that feeling had faded. But now, it suddenly came rushing back.
"Only Hollywood can truly unlock my potential. This is my chance," she thought, looking at Eric with growing fervor.
But it wasn't just her who was stunned. Han Sanping, Zhou Xiaopeng, and Deputy Director Chen also had wide-eyed expressions.
Eric didn't seem to realize the full significance of that sum, but Zhou Xiaopeng, as a government official, understood all too well how large it was. It far exceeded many international donations.
At this point, global donations to China totaled just over 20 million dollars.
The UK had donated 5 million dollars, Italy had contributed 1 million, Australia, through the WHO, provided material aid worth 1.7 million Australian dollars, Canada gave 3.14 million dollars in funds and research, and South Korea had donated 300,000 dollars.
Domestic donations were also active, but the largest contribution, from China Petroleum Group, had been 20 million yuan.
China's economy hadn't yet reached its peak; the average annual salary for employees in the leading city of Beijing last year was around 24,000 yuan.
Eric had casually offered 5 million dollars, and it couldn't help but draw a reaction.
Zhou Xiaopeng swallowed hard.
"Eric, 5 million dollars... perhaps that's not quite the appropriate amount."
"Why? I thought 5 million was already a significant sum."
Eric felt slightly irritated. He wanted to contribute but not be seen as naïve.
Zhou Xiaopeng quickly waved his hands.
"No, no, you've misunderstood. It's too much."
"What?"
This was the first time Eric had ever heard someone say a donation was "too much."
"Eric, you don't fully understand. I can't be too explicit, but I can give you a guideline. Two million dollars will be enough."
As a government official, Zhou Xiaopeng wasn't only thinking about economics but also about reputation.
If a foreign company were to donate over 40 million yuan, while the largest domestic donation stood at just 20 million, it would be a blow to many.
Eric didn't know all the details, but he simply smiled.
"Alright, if that's what you say, then let's make it 2 million dollars."
"Great. Lao Han and I will work to complete all the initial formalities within a week. Before you return to the U.S., we'll hold a press conference."
After the business talk subsided, the conversation turned to lighter topics. Zhou Xiaopeng listened as Han Sanping and Eric discussed the development of the film industry. Zhang Ziyi wanted to join in but wasn't taken seriously.
She said a few words but felt too embarrassed to continue, so she instead chatted with Susan to build rapport, all the while keeping an eye on Eric.
Two glasses clinked, and Han Sanping downed his drink in one gulp. He had already switched to baijiu, saying that red wine didn't suit his taste. Eric, however, stuck to his red wine, taking only small sips rather than finishing his glass.
After his first three glasses, Eric reverted to his usual slow pace.
Zhang Ziyi hurried to refill Han Sanping's glass as he was already a bit tipsy.
"Mr. Cooper, if our joint venture is successful... Excuse me, I mean, when it's successful."
"I have a hope that MGM can help us train personnel, especially technical specialists. China lags far behind Hollywood in this area."
"I don't want to sound ridiculous, but at our current level of special effects, mainland China can't even compare to Terminator 2 from 1991, a film that's already twelve years old."
"And the future belongs to blockbuster films with special effects. If we don't overcome these technical barriers, Chinese cinema won't be able to make it on the international stage. It's just impossible."
Eric admired Han Sanping's foresight. In the coming decades, the age of special effects truly dawned, with Hollywood dominating the global market.
However, the real reason Chinese cinema hadn't broken into the international market was more complex, but it wasn't something Eric thought was worth discussing at the moment.
There were also other obstacles, like the lack of a movie rating system, which hindered the development of the film industry.
"Chairman Han, you're right. But in my opinion, what's more important than technical skills are good stories. A good script is the foundation of a good movie."
"I can help with technical training and establishing connections between China Film Group and Weta Digital, but I hope China will also put more focus on its screenwriters. As far as I know, their position in the Chinese film industry is far from ideal."
"If you truly want Chinese cinema to conquer the world, focus on your screenwriters. Otherwise, why do you think many American TV shows were successful worldwide, even before the era of special effects?"
Some more time passed, and Han Sanping, who had initially been full of enthusiasm, began to look more and more somber. In the end, he downed another glass of baijiu.
Around 10 p.m., as the dinner wound down, Deputy Director Chen dragged the heavily intoxicated Zhou Xiaopeng away, and Zhang Ziyi volunteered to take the staggering Han Sanping home.
Eric and his entourage stayed the night at Fengzeyuan, which was not only a restaurant but also a hotel with rather pleasant accommodations.
"Alright, you should all get some rest as well," Eric told his companions.
"We'll discuss everything tomorrow."
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