Chapter 1678 - An animation studio?

Translator: Legge Editor: Legge

On this day.

America.

Los Angeles International Airport.

In the evening, an airplane slowly descended.

Zhang Ye said, “How was everyone’s sleep?”

Tong Fu smiled and said, “We all got enough sleep on the plane.”

Ha Qiqi asked, “Director Zhang, do we need to get in contact with Boss Qian?”

“No.” Zhang Ye smiled and said, “He’s probably busy now. We’ll go ahead and hang out by ourselves first.”

Little Wang said in a rush, “I’ll go get the luggage, I’ll go get the luggage!”

Zhang Zuo said, “Transportation has already been arranged.”

Zhang Ye stretched. “Alright, let’s go.”

They had chartered a minibus to take everyone from the studio directly into the Los Angeles suburbs where the world-renowned entertainment capital was—Hollywood.

The coast.

The old theaters.

The movie theme park.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame 1 .

Zhang Ye led his team to visit the attractions and traveled the entire Hollywood area just like the usual tourist. For Zhang Ye, this was only a so-so experience. This fellow was never really into foreign culture anyway, so he just went around with the others and joined in the fun. However, the rest of the studio was visibly excited. For example, Little Wang and Little Zhou both had stars in their eyes when they arrived at the Walk of Fame. They were yelling as they ran up to it to take pictures with the handprints and autographs of their favorite foreign celebrities. Throughout the tour, they behaved as though they got an adrenaline rush.

Little Wang giggled and said, “When will Director Zhang have his name and handprints imprinted here as well?”

Little Zhou said, “Soon, very soon. Director Zhang’s handprints will surely be installed here in the future.”

There was also a Walk of Fame in this world, and it was the highest honor that could be given to a celebrity in this world.

However, Zhang Ye had to be a wet blanket by saying, “Forget it, just look at all the stars on the floor. Whoever visits this place would be stepping all over them, so why would I want my name to be put here? As for the handprints, these people really don’t have any awareness of their security. What if they leave their fingerprints in the concrete and have their bank credentials stolen as a result?”

Ha Qiqi was speechless.

Zhang Zuo was speechless.

Little Wang was speechless.

Every one of them was very speechless in regards to Director Zhang’s sense of security.

Further down, they found the star with Lillian’s name on it.

Zhang Ye immediately went up to it and stepped on the star, then took out his cell phone to take a picture. After that, he sent it to Lillian.

A moment later, he received Lillian’s reply: “Get lost!”

When Zhang Ye saw it, he laughed out loud.

On the sidewalk, quite a few foreign tourists recognized Zhang Ye.

“Quick, look.”

“That man looks very familiar!”

“Is that Zhang Ye?”

“It’s him! It’s that Chinese celebrity!”

“Wow, he really came to Hollywood?”

“I like him a lot!”

“Me too! Man vs. Wild is a very good show!”

“I like his Gone With the Wind.”

“Did he really come to Hollywood to make a movie?”

Many of the foreigners had taken out their cameras to take photos of him, and several pretty ladies also came up to him to graciously ask for an autograph and picture together. Naturally, Zhang Ye did not reject them. He obliged everyone’s requests and got a new understanding of his fame overseas as well. From the time he turned into an international B-list celebrity, he realized that his fame and influence was different from before. If this were the past, he wouldn’t possibly get so much attention even if he were out walking the streets overseas.

This event also surprised many of the studio’s staff.

Ha Qiqi whispered, “Director Zhang is really an international star now.”

Zhang Zuo sighed and said, “Yeah, there are so many people who know about him now.”

“It’s more than that.” Little Zhou said, “Director Zhang has many foreign fans now.”

Little Wang said proudly, “That’s true, who do you think our Director Zhang is?”

Tong Fu said excitedly, “After we enter Hollywood, our popularity will surely go higher and higher.”

“We haven’t even made the movie yet.” Zhang Zuo laughed and said, “Be more modest for now.”

Ha Qiqi said, “Just look at these names on the Walk of Fame. If we want to make it to the top of the international entertainment circle, we definitely have to make a movie.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Two hours later.

A call arrived from China’s richest man.

Zhang Ye answered: “Boss Qian.”

Qian Haitao sounded a little tired. “You’ve arrived?”

“Yes,” Zhang Ye answered.

Qian Haitao said: “Shall we meet?”

Zhang Ye said: “Is the deal not done yet?”

Qian Haitao said: “Let’s speak when we meet.”

Zhang Ye said: “OK.”

After hanging up, everyone turned serious.

Ha Qiqi said nervously, “What is it, Director Zhang?”

Zhang Zuo said in surprise, “The deal didn’t work out?”

Zhang Ye shook his head. “I don’t know. But with how Old Qian spoke over the phone, there’s likely some problem.”

“How could this happen?” Little Wang said, “Boss Qian isn’t short on money and made the best offer as well. There shouldn’t be any other companies who can compete with him to bid for the studio, right?”

Zhang Ye said, “Acquiring a Hollywood studio is sometimes not just about the money.”

Everyone got onto the minibus and headed straight to Qian Haitao’s hotel.

But while they were on the minibus, the news came out.

Just as Zhang Ye had expected, the acquisition deal met with a major stumbling block.

Ha Qiqi’s face sank. “We might have come to America for nothing this time!”

Little Wang said in shock, “What happened?”

“Have a look for yourselves.” Ha Qiqi handed them the cell phone with the news on it.

The news was already talking about it.

All over the world, people were already discussing this news.

…

China.

“The acquisition fell through?”

“How can that happen!”

“The Directors Guild went on a demonstration to block it?”

“They even sent an American official to act on the matter?”

“They aren’t allowing a Chinese company to buy a Hollywood studio?”

“Damn, they’re going too far!”

“There was even an official intervention on the matter?”

“There was also price gouging involved?”

…

France.

“As expected, it didn’t go through.”

“It seems like they’re not letting China step into Hollywood’s territory.”

“An official intervention is such a last-ditch effort.”

“Hollywood’s stance on this is tough!”

“It looks like Zhang Ye has failed to enter Hollywood again.”

“Yeah, he failed to do so the previous time with Commando 2. Seems like he has no luck with a Hollywood debut.”

…

Russia.

“The Chinese company has still gained something out of this.”

“They might not have acquired the film studio, but they did manage to buy an animation studio.”

“The price they paid for it was too great though.”

“Yeah, it’s only an animation firm. There’s not much they can do with it.”

“Animated films barely make a dent in the box office earnings.”

“I suppose acquiring the animation studio is more of a symbolic statement.”

…

Japan.

“Zhang Ye has gone to Hollywood?”

“Seems like he has already arrived.”

“It looks like he’s gonna have to return to China again.”

“This fellow’s journey in showbiz has not been smooth at all.”

“The deal was already sealed, yet they still lost it.”

“The strong objection in America still played a key role in stopping the deal.”

…

America.

At the Directors Guild.

“We’ve succeeded!”

“Hahahaha!”

“We’ve finally shut out the Chinese company!”

“Well done!”

“But we still allowed them to get away with one of our animation studios.”

“An animation studio doesn’t matter much. Animated films don’t make much of an impact at the box office anyway.”

“Our protests still had a huge effect!”

“We won’t allow Hollywood to be a mouthpiece for the Chinese!”

“That’s right. If they’re so capable, go ahead and make an animated film! Let them suffer an enormous loss! Hahahahaha!”