After deducting the special film fund and taxes, the remaining box office revenue still had to be shared with the cinemas and theater chains. Their cut was typically around half, just under sixty percent, amounting to a payout of nearly three billion.
From the remaining two billion-plus, a distribution agency fee of several hundred million had to be paid. Only what was left after that was the production company’s revenue.
Since the movie was fully funded by the company Su Chen and his partners had formed, they naturally didn’t have to share the profits with any outsiders.
’I never realized cinemas and theater chains were so profitable. No wonder the Wada Group opens a cinema wherever they build one of their plazas. Talk about a perfect multi-pronged development strategy!’
Su Chen toyed with the teacup in his hand. A moment ago, the thought of getting into the cinema and theater chain business himself had crossed his mind, but he had just as quickly dismissed it.
’I’m not short on that kind of money. Besides, the domestic market has already been thoroughly sifted. The cinemas still standing are the ones that survived the fierce competition. There’s no need for me to fight for a tiny slice of that cake.’
’I’d make more money, and faster, just by having the mine in Irkutsk extract a few thousand extra tons of raw ore each month.’
Seeing Su Chen’s thoughtful expression, Wu Jing nervously bit the bullet and asked, "Mr. Su, what are your plans for this two billion in profit? Are you going to keep it on the company’s books for future investments, or... will you be distributing some of it as dividends to the shareholders?"
"Hm?" Su Chen was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly understood.
’While this amount of money didn’t mean much to me, for Wu Jing, Yu Qian, and Si Cong, it was a fortune. Even a partial payout would be in the hundreds of millions—enough to drastically improve their current living situations.’
’Especially Wu Jing. He’d sold his own house to make a movie and was now living in the small two-bedroom place his wife had bought years ago.’
"Let’s pay out dividends," Su Chen said after a moment. "There’s no point in letting such a large sum just sit on the company’s books! Let’s distribute one and a half billion, and leave the remaining five hundred million for investments and company operations."
Su Chen was the majority shareholder, holding fifty percent of the company. Wu Jing and Yu Qian had invested together, holding a combined twenty-five percent. With a dividend pool of one and a half billion, the two of them would split three hundred and seventy-five million.
How much of that went to Wu Jing personally was not Su Chen’s concern.
When he heard Su Chen agree to a one-and-a-half-billion-yuan dividend, Wu Jing’s face instantly flushed. He suspected Su Chen had agreed to such a large payout primarily for his sake.
"Mr. Su, I’m sorry for the trouble," Wu Jing said, looking a bit embarrassed. He really was short on cash lately, or he never would have had the gall to approach Su Chen like this. A special trip wasn’t necessary just to report good news.
Su Chen waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t say that; it makes us sound like strangers. You made the biggest contribution to this movie. We’re all earning this money because of you. There’s no ’trouble’ involved."
"Hmm..." Su Chen trailed off, thinking for a moment. "Also... take another fifty million from my share of the dividends to use as bonuses. You get twenty million. As for the rest, you decide."
"Ah! Mr. Su, this... I can’t possibly accept this!" Wu Jing stammered, shocked by Su Chen’s generosity. Fifty million, given away without a second thought.
"There’s nothing to debate. When we shareholders make a profit, it’s only natural to reward the people below us. After all, everyone contributed. If we’re seen as hoarding the profits, people will inevitably start talking behind our backs."
Wu Jing nodded silently. He knew Su Chen was right. The company employees had been with him through thick and thin for a month in Africa; they had suffered plenty.
With that thought, Wu Jing made a decision. He looked up at Su Chen, about to speak, but Su Chen spoke first.
"And you don’t need to put in any of your own money for bonuses," Su Chen said, having read Wu Jing’s intentions from his expression.
"As the largest shareholder, it’s my responsibility to cover this. If you chip in, it puts Si Cong and Yu Qian in an awkward spot."
"Besides, fifty million is more than enough. Even after you take out your twenty million, the remaining thirty million means every employee can get a bonus of several hundred thousand. Remember the principle: going too far is as bad as not going far enough."
At these words, a wry smile touched Wu Jing’s lips. "You’ve really thought this all through, Mr. Su."
With the matter of dividends and bonuses settled, Su Chen and Wu Jing moved on to discussing future plans and any good film projects on the horizon.
As it turned out, there was a project—and it was a big one.
The rookie director Wu Jing had recommended at the premiere dinner, Guo Fan, had a great script. After he, Wu Jing, and the company’s editors reviewed it, they all believed it would blaze a new trail for science fiction movies, filling a major gap in the market.
To perfect the script, the company was now focusing all its resources on it. They expected to officially greenlight the project within a month.
"I’ll leave that in your hands. If you run into any problems you can’t solve, just give me a call."
Su Chen had great confidence in Wu Jing’s eye for talent. If he was this enthusiastic about the sci-fi script, there had to be something brilliant about it.
’Leave the professional work to the professionals.’ He would just sit back and wait for the results.