April 1st, 2003, April Fool's Day, the fourth day of Eric's stay in China.
In those four days, he had managed to visit many of Beijing's attractions. The lack of crowds allowed him to enjoy the freedom and the lively noise, bringing him great pleasure.
However, the morning brought sad news. All the newspapers and the internet were filled with reports of Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung's suicide.
Eric remembered that it was today, on this very day, that Leslie Cheung took his own life. In his youth, Eric hadn't felt much emotion about it. Although he had watched classic films like A Better Tomorrow, The Heroic Trio, and Once a Thief, at the time, he only focused on the entertainment aspect, and aside from Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Stephen Chow, and Madonna, he didn't remember many other stars.
He knew Madonna thanks to his father, who was a fan of hers.
As Eric grew older, he understood how tragic the loss of a star like Leslie Cheung was. Public opinion, in any era, can become an invisible weapon capable of killing.
Chen Xin showed no reaction, as he didn't know who Leslie Cheung was. He merely glanced at the news and continued with his breakfast. Only the death of Peter O'Toole might have stirred something in him.
Eric, after a light meal, sighed with sadness.
After breakfast, Susan joined them, and the three of them headed into the city. The passage through official institutions was quite strict, and only after a thorough inspection were they able to enter the building.
In the lobby on the first floor, Han Sanping and Zhou Xiaopeng were already waiting for them. After their previous meeting, especially after MGM had started transferring funds, both of them had gone all out, halting all unimportant matters and spending several days non-stop negotiating meetings.
Today, Eric had come to meet with Beijing officials to discuss the details of their cooperation.
When they arrived, Han Sanping and Zhou Xiaopeng hurried toward them, and the latter said, "The Secretary is waiting for you in the conference room. Please, follow me."
As they approached the elevator, Han Sanping added, "Eric, today's meeting will be a joint one: besides Secretary Li, the head of our department, Mr. Wang, is also present. It's better to discuss both projects at once."
"Your department head is here too?" Eric asked with a smile, understanding that this indicated a serious commitment to the matter.
"He's not the main head, just our deputy who oversees affairs. The main head is not in Beijing right now, but he's aware and supports us."
Eric nodded, "The key is that there's someone with the authority to make decisions. But for the final approval, won't your main head need to sign off?"
"Don't worry, he'll be back in a few days. I informed him that you'll be in Beijing for no more than a week, so he'll be able to sign the documents in time."
The elevator opened, and they stepped into a hallway where several men in business suits awaited them. Behind them were people with bags and cameras.
Eric was ready to exchange greetings, but the Secretary had already extended his hand.
"Welcome, Mr. Cooper. It's a pleasure to have you."
The others also shook his hand. These were influential people whose decisions affected the lives of millions.
Soon, they all entered the conference room, where nameplates were placed in front of each seat.
Although Han Sanping and Zhou Xiaopeng held high positions in the entertainment industry, they sat at the far end of the table since they were invited only due to their involvement in the project. Their nameplates didn't feature their names but rather the names of their organizations.
Susan's nameplate particularly stood out, as it was written in English. Since she didn't know Chinese, she had brought an interpreter.
"Mr. Cooper, it's a pleasure to meet you. It's hard to believe that someone as young as you is trusted with running a multi-billion-dollar company. In our language, we call this 'young but promising.'"
Eric smiled, "A lot in life depends on luck and timing. We're fortunate that MGM is thriving now, and I'm confident we'll see even more success in the future."
"Just like China. In ancient times, China was the center of the world's economy and culture, and I'm sure it will regain its greatness, becoming one of the most important economic and cultural centers in the world."
"It seems, Mr. Cooper, you know quite a bit about China."
"Yes, I believe so. Otherwise, I wouldn't have convinced my father to open a branch here, as I see immense potential in this market."
Cameras clicked, capturing the moment. After brief pleasantries, they got down to business.
Director Wang said, "Let's first discuss the creation of the joint venture. The idea is excellent, and we are in principle agreement."
"Recently, we had an in-depth discussion on this with Miss Susan and reviewed the project. In principle, we support it."
"However, there are a few conditions under which we would like more favorable terms."
This was expected. Negotiations always involve a degree of bargaining, as long as the conditions were reasonable.
"Please, go ahead."
"First, regarding technical issues. This is something the Chinese film industry lacks the most. The existing cooperation plan, in my opinion, is too cautious. We could expand the scale."
"I propose increasing the number of directors sent for internships at MGM from two to five people per year, and also adding professionals in management, 3D technology, screenwriting, and other crucial areas. Only this way can we accelerate the rise of Chinese cinema."
"Second, regarding film distribution. Frankly, we're still searching for the right path to global distribution, but so far, without success."
"At present, Chinese films can only enter the global market through foreign companies. But relying on the will of others cannot be a long-term solution."
"That's why, Mr. Cooper, my second request is for MGM to help China gradually create its own distribution network, starting with North America."
Director Wang's proposals were indeed aimed at the future of Chinese cinema, and everyone present understood that.
If everything went according to plan, this talent-training program could truly begin in about ten years.
For example, people like Guo Fan, Chen Sicheng, Xiao Yang, and Yu Baimei were students of Hollywood during those years. Upon their return, each contributed to the development of Chinese cinema.
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