mijobooks Chapter 2 How to Make Money
Chapter 2 How to Make Money
Zeng Hao then turned his attention to the company's business reports.
Compared to the huge losses suffered by the investment department, the production department's performance was barely acceptable, after all, the web series "The Lion's Reflection of a Lazy Cat" at least earned 100 million.
If we extend the timeframe to the entire year of last year, a company with just over thirty employees only managed to produce one web series in the whole year, which is quite inefficient.
Of course, this is also because the company's development direction went wrong, and all the funds were given to the investment department.
The production department was essentially held back by the investment department and the company's strategic direction.
This has left the company with a deep hidden danger.
With only one drama series produced last year, the entire production team was desperately in need of funding, and many people had already taken on side jobs and were essentially on the run.
If the company can't get through this hurdle, the entire production department will most likely run away.
Zeng Hao picked up a pen and circled several important names on the production department list, such as the lighting team, the photography team, the art team, and the sound recording team leader.
For these highly specialized and lucrative film and television team jobs, the traditional model of experienced mentors guiding newcomers or master-apprentice mentors is used. Retaining one person in charge is equivalent to retaining a small team.
Makeup and clothing can be temporarily outsourced to outsiders.
Props, production management, and coordination tasks can be temporarily assigned to other employees of the company, and Zeng Hao can also work part-time as a producer on the set.
Finance and external relations can be handled by Sister Liu.
With all the roles combined, a temporary film crew was formed.
Oh, and there's also the director and the assistant director.
The company currently has only one contracted director named Peng Bing. Last year's "The Lion's Reflection of a Lazy Cat" was his work. His directing skills are above average, and the key is that it is relatively inexpensive. Moreover, the profession of director is in high demand and short supply in various film and television production companies.
Therefore, Peng Bing also wanted to stay.
Zeng Hao circled another important point, and finally turned his attention to the company's artist management department.
The company's current star, Yang Shanshan, definitely needs to be appeased. If the company doesn't have any good profit-making projects in the short term, Yang Shanshan is essentially the company's only cash cow. So, give her more gigs.
However, Yang Shanshan's relationship with the company is currently somewhat awkward, and it will take some effort to eliminate any resentment in the other party's heart.
After considering Yang Shanshan's question, Zeng Hao's gaze fell on the names of several other artists in the artist management department.
Compared to Yang Shanshan, the other artists are really not good enough. They are not even Xiaoyu. At best, they are just some trainees with no fame and no special skills.
These were all low-level extras who signed with the company last year when filming "The Lion's Reflection of a Lazy Cat".
"Wait, who's this? Xu Kunkun?"
Zeng Hao's gaze fell on the last name, which indicated Xu Kunkun's level—trainee. He had signed with the company in the second half of last year and was currently assigned to a training center for study. Therefore, Zeng Hao had only met him once.
As Zeng Hao murmured Xu Kunkun's name, a blurry and somewhat immature figure immediately appeared in his mind.
"Xu Kunkun? Could it be him? That trainee from my past life who trained for two and a half years, the future top star?"
Zeng Hao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly picked up the phone on the table.
"Sister Liu, our company just signed a trainee named Xu Kunkun at the end of last year. Do you have his information? Could you send it to me on your computer?"
A moment later, Zeng Hao saw Xu Kunkun's detailed information on the computer.
He had a middle-part hairstyle, a slender build, a youthful yet handsome face, and a pair of bright, piercing eyes.
Zeng Hao remembered that Xu Kunkun in his previous life officially debuted in 2018 in a variety show called "Idol Producer". Before his debut, he had a two-and-a-half-year trainee period.
The timing is right.
As for the photos, to be honest, the Xu Kunkun in front of Zeng Hao was far from having the looks of a top star in his previous life. He could be considered handsome at best, and even had a bit of a rustic air about him.
Therefore, Zeng Hao was still somewhat uncertain.
After all, China is too big, and there are many people with the same name. If this Xu Kunkun is the same Xu Kunkun, then Zeng Hao has essentially drawn an SSS-level gift pack at the start of the game.
The company doesn't need to do anything right now; all it needs to do is focus on developing Xu Kunkun. After 2-3 years, they can just sit back and collect money.
With his advanced consciousness from his past life, Sunshine Entertainment's future is definitely promising.
Oh no, it should be that Zeng Hao's future prospects are promising.
Because no matter how popular a top influencer is, in the eyes of a company, they are just a tool to make money.
Zeng Hao felt a surge of warmth in his heart and quickly picked up the phone. "Sister Liu, please inform Xu Kunkun and Yang Shanshan to come to the company this afternoon. I want to talk to them in person. This matter is very important."
Sister Liu asked on the phone, "Is it this afternoon?"
"Yes."
Just as Zeng Hao was about to hang up the phone, he remembered an even more pressing issue: raising money, at least enough to pay the company's salaries for this month.
Then, a thought crossed my mind: "Never mind, let's change the time to tomorrow morning."
"I'll make an appointment with Manager Wang from Ping An Bank this afternoon."
Before meeting with Manager Wang, he also had to personally prepare a project development plan for the company this year.
That's right, he plans to take out another loan from Ping An Bank.
Given Sunshine Entertainment's current predicament, Manager Wang wouldn't lend him the money unless he's blind, provided the other party doesn't want the two million.
The two million loan was also processed through Manager Wang.
If the money cannot be recovered, the other party's year-end bonus or career prospects will be greatly affected. Therefore, as long as Zeng Hao can find a reasonable excuse and come up with a seemingly promising plan, there is a high probability that he can get another loan.
Zeng Hao learned all of these things from Boss Xu in his previous life.
Who told the one who owes money to be the boss?
In the afternoon, Zeng Hao and Manager Wang from Ping An Bank sat at opposite ends of a table at a Western restaurant near the company.
The two didn't exchange many pleasantries; Zeng Hao simply handed the proposal he was holding to Zeng Hao across the air.
"What is this?"
Manager Wang wore gold-rimmed glasses. He was in his early thirties but looked very young. Someone who could reach such a position in the bank at such a young age must have powerful backers and connections.
Based on Zeng Hao's understanding of this guy, he was cautious, greedy, and somewhat indecisive.
My personality isn't the assertive type.
Moreover, Zeng Hao was well aware that this guy attached great importance to his career planning, and this was Zeng Hao's opportunity.
Manager Wang took the proposal and glanced at it. He saw that the document listed two film and television dramas that Yangguang Entertainment was preparing for in 2015.
A low-budget web series called "Go Princess Go".
A youth fantasy film called "Back to 20".
It also included the outlines, selling points, and investment budgets for both series, as well as the written scripts for the first few episodes.
Manager Wang only needed to glance at him to know what Zeng Hao was about to say. He knew very well that Sunshine Media was having a tough time and was lucky to have survived.
Where will we get the working capital to start new projects?
The reason he came today was to give Zeng Hao a heads-up beforehand and to ask about the repayment plan for the 2 million yuan loan in three months.
He had already prepared for the worst.
As is widely known, Sunshine Entertainment's major investment project last year, "The Crossing," has completely flopped, and the mortgage contract is still in their bank's safe deposit box.
Yangguang Entertainment's repayment ability is probably very weak right now. Being able to grant the other party a one-year extension is the greatest sincerity he can offer at present.
He quickly skimmed through the proposal in his hand, his mind far from the document. Then, he waved his hand dismissively and asked in a questioning tone, "What do you mean by this?"
Zeng Hao held up two fingers and said confidently, "I invited Manager Wang here today for two things."
"Firstly, our company's financial situation is not good at the moment, and we are afraid that we will not be able to repay the loan in three months. We hope that Manager Wang can help us to extend the loan for another year, considering our previous cooperation."
"Don't worry, this loan will definitely be repaid in a year. In addition, there will be a 10 yuan fee for your hard work, which I will present to you at that time."
Manager Wang's expression softened considerably. If there was a fee for his hard work, then everything would be fine.
"I can help arrange the extension procedures, but..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zeng Hao held up another finger. "The second thing is that I hope Manager Wang can help Yangguan Entertainment get another loan of 200 million."
Manager Wang looked at Zeng Hao as if he were an idiot, his previous conciliatory tone vanishing instantly. His face turned ashen as he said, "Impossible. Don't think I don't know about your company's current situation."
Zeng Hao had a confident look on his face. He tapped his fingers heavily on the table twice and said, word by word, "If we can't get this loan, Yangguang Entertainment Company will immediately file for bankruptcy."
Manager Wang: "What does your company's bankruptcy have to do with me? Your lawyers will handle the lawsuit. As far as I know, Mr. Zeng is currently the sole legal representative of Yangguang Entertainment, right?"
Zeng Hao spread his hands, adopting an attitude of "I'm shameless, and there's nothing you can do about it." He said, "I can be a deadbeat, but Manager Wang, let me ask you something sincerely: you're young and promising now, and you don't want your career prospects to be tarnished like this, do you?"
"you……"
Manager Wang's words caught in his throat and remained unspoken.
Half an hour later, Zeng Hao walked out of the Western restaurant with a relaxed expression, holding the proposal. After his sincere assurances and friendly persuasion, Manager Wang finally agreed to his two requests.
However, the other party demanded that Yang Guang Entertainment use Yang Shanshan's management contract as collateral.
Upon returning to the company, Zeng Hao immediately summoned Sister Liu and gave her a thorough dressing-down.
"Sister Liu, do you have Manager Wang's phone number from the bank?"
Sister Liu nodded with a bewildered look. The loan was due in three months, and she was the person in charge of liaising with the bank.
This matter has always been like a sickle hanging over Yangguang Entertainment, ready to fall at any moment and kill the company.
"Manager Wang has agreed to extend this loan for another year. Contact him and expedite the process. Prepare whatever documents are needed."
"Oh, right, there's one more thing. Manager Wang is a really good person, very ambitious, and he also has a high opinion of Yangguang Entertainment. He's agreed to help us get another loan of 200 million. You'll be in charge of handling that, preparing the materials, and using Yang Shanshan's agent contract as collateral."
"Don't tell Yang Shanshan about this; keep it a secret for now."
Sister Liu's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape. "Huh?"
Zeng Hao repeated it briefly again.
Sister Liu finally came to her senses, her face filled with disbelief and incredulity.
"Mr. Zeng, how could Manager Wang agree to lend us another 200 million? I remember he wasn't the kind of person who was so easy to talk to."
Zeng Hao tossed the business plan he'd brought back from the Western restaurant to the other party, saying casually, "Perhaps after reading our plan, they've developed confidence and expectations for our company's future development?"
"Take it back and take a look. Get the things I assigned done as soon as possible."
"Okay." Sister Liu came out of the office with a bewildered look on her face, her eyes falling on the proposal in her hand.
Zeng Hao's confident expression flashed through my mind again.
She felt like something was wrong.
Firstly, she knew Manager Wang very well, having dealt with him quite a bit before.
Manager Wang, an accountant by training, has a personality like a suspicious menopausal woman—greedy, cautious, and fussy. Given Yangguang Entertainment Company's current predicament, the other party would absolutely not agree to lend another loan.
It's easy to arrange to extend the previous loan for another year.
Something must have happened that she doesn't know about.
Secondly, Zeng Hao had called her to his office several times today, and she could clearly sense that her boss, Zeng Hao, had changed. Not long ago, he was grieving, silent, and full of sorrow, sighing all the while.
Today, they are radiant, ambitious, and incredibly energetic.
It's like he's become a completely different person.
This gave Sister Liu a glimmer of curiosity and confidence about what would happen next. Perhaps, under the leadership of Zeng Hao, the sole boss, Yangguan Entertainment's predicament could be alleviated, or even that it could emerge from its predicament.
Sister Liu returned to her office, closed the door, and focused her attention entirely on the proposal in her hand.
She felt the secret was hidden in the proposal she held in her hand.